Image Credits: Radio Free Asia
On the morning of August 26, a Chinese military intelligence-gathering aircraft briefly violated Japanese airspace, marking the first confirmed instance of such a breach by a Chinese military plane. The incursion occurred off the coast of Nagasaki Prefecture, prompting an immediate response from the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF).
According to Japan’s Ministry of Defense, the incident began when a Chinese Y-9 reconnaissance aircraft entered Japan’s Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) over the East China Sea and proceeded toward Kyushu. JASDF fighter jets were deployed to intercept and issue radio warnings, instructing the aircraft to avoid Japanese airspace. Despite these warnings, the Chinese plane circled the southeast coast of the Onna-jima Islands in Goto City before entering Japanese airspace approximately 22 kilometers off the coast at around 11:29 a.m.
The aircraft remained within Japanese airspace for approximately two minutes before exiting southeast of the Danjo Islands. It continued to circle the vicinity before returning to mainland China around 1:15 p.m. The Ministry of Defense has yet to confirm whether the Chinese aircraft responded to the Japanese warnings or if any defensive measures, such as warning flares, were employed by the Self-Defense Forces.
This incident represents a significant escalation, as it is the first verified intrusion into Japanese airspace by a Chinese military aircraft. The Ministry of Defense has expressed strong disapproval, lodging a formal protest through diplomatic channels and urging China to prevent future occurrences.
Historically, Chinese non-military aircraft have breached Japanese airspace on a few occasions. In December 2012, a Chinese State Oceanic Administration propeller plane and, in May 2017, a small unmanned aircraft linked to the China Coast Guard, both violated Japanese airspace near the Senkaku Islands.
In response to the latest violation, Japan’s Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, Okano, summoned Chinese Embassy Charge d’Affaires Shi Ying to deliver a stern protest and demand preventive measures. Shi Ying indicated that she would report the matter to her government.
Junichi Araki, a former JASDF fighter pilot, commented on the situation, noting that the Y-9 aircraft is typically employed for gathering communication and signal intelligence. He suggested that the breach indicates an increase in Chinese intelligence activities around Japan, driven by a more assertive stance from Chinese leadership. Araki warned that the incident could be a precursor to further provocations and emphasized the need for Japan to respond with measured calmness to avoid escalating tensions.
This incident highlights the growing complexities in regional security dynamics and underscores the importance of vigilance and diplomacy in managing international airspace disputes.