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.

The territorial violation by China is the latest in a series of events amplifying tensions between Beijing and Japan.

A Chinese military surveillance plane breached Japanese airspace off the country’s southwestern coast on Monday, marking what Japan’s defense ministry described as the first known incursion by China’s military into its territorial airspace.

According to a ministry official, a Chinese reconnaissance aircraft briefly entered Japanese territory near Nagasaki Prefecture around 11:30 a.m. on Monday. In response, Japan’s Self-Defense Force put fighter jets on high alert and issued a warning to the Chinese aircraft.

While Chinese planes frequently appear in international airspace around Japan, this incident represents the first confirmed entry of a military aircraft into Japan’s territorial airspace.

    • Mister BeanEnglish
      22•2 months ago

      So that they can attack Taiwan to “secure local allies” would be my incredibly uneducated guess.

    • @assassin_aragornEnglish
      9•2 months ago

      At least this time they aren’t claiming most of the South China Sea and ramming Philippine fisherman boats.

    • @EiriEnglish
      8•2 months ago

      I suspect they have something to gain by fueling a climate of geopolitical tension. Maybe they hope someone will turn to them because they’re scared?

      I’m not sure what exactly but I’ve got a feeling we’re underestimating their intelligence when we say they’re just posturing or being silly.

      But then again, several years ago people thought Trump and Musk had a plan and were just posturing as idiots while playing 4D chess. How wrong they were.

      I may just be giving the Chinese government too much credit… But I’m leaning towards no.

    • @nialv7English
      3•2 months ago

      To provide a distraction for their domestic problems maybe?