For the first time ever, China claims to be “verifying” charges made by Japan that its military breached its airspace.
China is allegedly invading Japan’s airspace, and Japan declares this to be “totally unacceptable.”
Defense Minister Minoru Kihara said in a Tuesday interview with reporters that a Chinese military aircraft had violated the airspace, terming such activities a breach of its safety and sovereignty.
According to Kyodo News, Kihara stated, “We are firmly determined to protect our land, sea, and airspace and to stand up to say what we need to say.”
For the first time ever, Japan accused the Chinese military on Monday of invading its airspace.
In an effort to ensure that a similar flight won’t occur again, Tokyo called Chinese Charge d’Affaires Shi Yong and filed a “extremely serious protest” about the airspace breach, according to the Japanese Foreign Ministry.
China announced on Tuesday that it is looking into the claimed breach of Japan’s airspace.
Prior to this, Japan has acknowledged two similar events in the East China Sea in 2012 and 2017, respectively, involving a Chinese marine surveillance plane and a drone above waters close to the Chinese-claimed and Japanese-administered Senkaku Islands.
Over the Senkaku Islands, the two bitter enemies have been at odds for a long time.
