Tensions Rise as Japan and China Clash Over Airspace Violations in East China Sea
Escalating Airspace Disputes
Tokyo: Japan and China are currently engaged in a heated exchange, each accusing the other of breaching airspace over the disputed islands in the East China Sea, which Japan administers but China also claims.
The Japanese Foreign Ministry has formally protested to China after a helicopter from one of its coast guard vessels entered Japan's territorial waters near the Senkaku Islands, infringing on Japanese airspace for approximately 15 minutes on Saturday.
In reaction to this violation, Japan's Self-Defence Force deployed fighter jets, as confirmed by the Defence Ministry.
China frequently sends its coast guard ships and aircraft into the waters and airspace surrounding these islands, known as Diaoyu in China, often provoking Japanese vessels and prompting Japan to scramble its jets.
This latest territorial dispute arises at a time when Japan and China appeared to be fostering better relations, both countries aiming to lessen the impact of the ongoing U.S. tariff conflict.
The Japanese Foreign Ministry expressed a 'very severe protest' via the Chinese embassy in Japan, asserting that the actions of the Chinese Coast Guard violated Japan's sovereignty and calling on China to implement measures to prevent such incidents.
In a reciprocal move, China issued a statement protesting against Japan, claiming a Japanese civilian aircraft had violated its airspace around the islands, expressing strong dissatisfaction over Japan's infringement on Chinese sovereignty.
Japanese authorities are currently investigating a potential link between the airspace violation by the Chinese coast guard helicopter and a small Japanese civilian aircraft that was in the vicinity at the same time.
This incident marks the first airspace breach by China since a reconnaissance aircraft entered Japanese airspace near Nagasaki. Previously, Chinese aircraft have violated Japanese airspace around the Senkaku Islands on two occasions.