- 14 Mar 2002
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A Chinese military surveillance plane breached Japanese airspace on Monday, prompting a strong protest from Tokyo. The Y-9 aircraft, belonging to the People's Liberation Army, flew over the Danjo Islands, a set of small islands in the East China Sea. This was the first time a Chinese military aircraft had violated Japanese territory.
A Chinese Y-9 reconnaissance plane (Kyodo via Japan Ministry of Defense)
Japan's Air Self-Defense Force scrambled fighter jets to intercept the Chinese plane in response. The Japanese government lodged a formal protest with the Chinese Embassy in Tokyo, demanding that such incidents not be repeated. The Ministry of Defense also conveyed its strong objection to the Chinese Foreign Ministry through diplomatic channels. As of now, the Chinese side has not issued a public statement regarding the incident.
www.japantimes.co.jp
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A Chinese Y-9 reconnaissance plane (Kyodo via Japan Ministry of Defense)
Japan's Air Self-Defense Force scrambled fighter jets to intercept the Chinese plane in response. The Japanese government lodged a formal protest with the Chinese Embassy in Tokyo, demanding that such incidents not be repeated. The Ministry of Defense also conveyed its strong objection to the Chinese Foreign Ministry through diplomatic channels. As of now, the Chinese side has not issued a public statement regarding the incident.
While Monday's violation was the first by a Chinese military plane, a fixed-wing aircraft belonging to Beijing's former State Oceanic Administration crossed the boundary in 2012, as did a small unmanned aircraft belonging to the China Coast Guard in 2017.
Japan says Chinese military violated territorial airspace for first time
The ministry said one of the Chinese military's Y-9 intelligence-gathering planes had briefly entered Japanese territory near the Danjo Islands in Nagasaki Prefecture.
Japan protests after a Chinese reconnaissance plane violated its airspace
Japan has protested to Beijing that a Chinese reconnaissance plane violated Japanese airspace and forced it to scramble fighter jets
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Chinese surveillance plane breaches Japanese airspace for first time
Japan's defense ministry says fighters were scrambled to warn off Y-9
