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The Independent
11-07-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Japan says Chinese fighter-bombers came within 30 metre of its spy aircraft
Chinese fighter jets allegedly flew dangerously close to Japanese surveillance aircraft over the East China Sea twice this week, prompting Tokyo to issue a formal diplomatic protest and express 'serious concerns' about the risk of accidental collisions. According to Japan 's defence ministry, the two incidents involved Chinese JH-7 fighter-bombers making 'unusual approaches' to Japan Air Self-Defence Force YS-11EB electronic intelligence planes during routine missions in international airspace on Wednesday and Thursday, according to a report in Japan Times. In both cases, the Chinese jets came as close as 30 metres to the Japanese aircraft, raising alarm in Tokyo over what officials called increasingly provocative behaviour by Beijing. The first encounter occurred on Wednesday morning, when a Chinese jet flew within 30m laterally of the ASDF plane. The following day, a second close pass was recorded, with the fighter jet closing the distance vertically, again to just 30m. Tokyo said the aircraft remained in dangerously close proximity for prolonged periods — up to 15 minutes on Wednesday and around 10 minutes on Thursday, according to Bloomberg. The Japanese defence ministry has described the actions as 'abnormal' and said they posed a real danger of mid-air collision. 'Such unusual approaches by Chinese military aircraft pose a potential risk of accidental collision and have raised serious concerns,' the ministry said in a statement. No damage was reported, but the Japanese foreign ministry said vice foreign minister Takehiro Funakoshi summoned Chinese ambassador Wu Jianghao to lodge a formal protest and demand a halt to such manoeuvres, according to Associated Press. In early June, Chinese J-15 jets operating from the Shandong aircraft carrier also flew very close to Japanese P-3C maritime patrol aircraft over the Pacific Ocean, around 45 metres away at one point, and even crossed directly in front of one aircraft at a distance of just 900 metres, a move that could easily have resulted in a high-speed collision. Chinese military aircraft and coastguard ships have intensified operations near the Senkakus in recent months, and both of China's aircraft carriers were spotted conducting joint exercises in the Pacific for the first time last month, a move viewed by Japanese officials as a further expansion of Chinese naval capabilities. China has not made a statement on this week's events, but in the past has accused Japan of conducting surveillance activities close to its military operations and claimed the right to defend its interests.
South China Morning Post
11-07-2025
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Chinese fighter jets buzzing Japanese aircraft: ‘a new status quo'?
Tokyo has expressed 'serious concerns' to Beijing after a Chinese fighter jet came close to a Japanese aircraft operating in international airspace over the East China Sea on two occasions this week, with analysts suggesting that a pattern is emerging of China being increasingly willing to challenge Japan at sea and in the air. According to Japan's Defence Ministry, a Chinese JH-7 fighter-bomber flew within 70 metres of an Air Self-Defence Force YS-11EB electronic surveillance aircraft on Wednesday and maintained that position for about 15 minutes. A similar approach took place the following day and lasted about 10 minutes. Tokyo lodged a formal protest with Beijing on Thursday, calling the behaviour 'abnormal' and warning that such close contact risked 'accidental collisions'. It urged Chinese authorities to take steps to prevent a repeat of the incidents. The encounters came just a month after Tokyo protested against another 'abnormal approach' by a Chinese fighter jet – this time launched from the aircraft carrier Shandong – towards a Japanese P-3C maritime patrol aircraft monitoring Chinese naval manoeuvres over the Pacific Ocean. A J-15 fighter jet from the Chinese aircraft carrier Shandong making an unusual approach to a Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force P-3C patrol aircraft that was conducting surveillance above the Pacific Ocean on June 8. Photo: Japan's Ministry of Defence / AFP Analysts say the incidents reflect a longer-term shift in China's regional posture.
Reuters
10-06-2025
- Politics
- Reuters
Two Chinese aircraft carriers seen in Pacific for first time, Japan says
TOKYO, June 10 (Reuters) - Two Chinese aircraft carriers were spotted conducting simultaneous operations in the Pacific for the first time, Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya said on Tuesday. Japan's Defence Ministry has confirmed the Liaoning and Shandong operating in separate locations in the Pacific on Saturday, both near remote southern islands belonging to Japan. Iwaya said the ministry had communicated with Beijing through China's embassy in Japan and that it would take further "appropriate steps" as needed. He stopped short of condemning China for the operations. Japan had said a day earlier that Liaoning sailed in the sea within Japan's exclusive economic zone near Minamitorishima, a remote island east of Iwo Jima.
