Japan Scrambles Jets Against Chinese Reconnaissance Aircraft Breach

Japan's defence ministry reported scrambling jets against a Chinese reconnaissance aircraft that breached its airspace for the first time. The incident prompted a strong diplomatic protest from Japan, with the Vice Foreign Minister summoning a Chinese embassy official to demand prevention of future breaches.

Japan's defence ministry announced that it scrambled jets on Monday morning after a Chinese reconnaissance aircraft briefly breached its airspace.

Identified as a Y-9 reconnaissance plane, the aircraft flew over the Danjo Islands, located west of Kyushu, between 11:29 a.m. and 11:31 a.m. The ministry highlighted that this marked the first instance of a Chinese military aircraft violating Japan's airspace, leading to a strong protest lodged through diplomatic channels.

In a separate statement, the Japanese foreign ministry noted that Vice Foreign Minister Masataka Okano had summoned a senior official from the Chinese embassy in Tokyo to formally protest the incursion and demand measures to prevent future breaches. Chinese foreign ministry representatives were unavailable for immediate comment.

(With inputs from agencies.)