Tensions between China and Japan have escalated once again after a weekend airspace dispute near the contested Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea.
On Sunday, China rejected Japan’s claim that a Chinese coast guard helicopter entered Japanese airspace on Saturday. Instead, Beijing blamed a Japanese civilian aircraft for the confrontation. Liu Jinsong, head of the Chinese Foreign Ministry’s Asian Affairs Department, issued a formal protest to Akira Yokochi, chief minister at Japan’s embassy in Beijing.
Liu condemned the “intrusion of Japan’s right-wing civilian aircraft” over the disputed Senkaku Islands, which China refers to as Diaoyu. Although Japan administers the uninhabited islets, China continues to assert its sovereignty. Beijing demanded that Tokyo halt what it calls “illegal activities” and take firm steps to prevent further incidents.
In response, Yokochi lodged Japan’s own protest, accusing a Chinese coast guard helicopter of violating Japanese airspace. The Japanese embassy said it demanded immediate measures from China to avoid any recurrence.
According to Japan’s Defense Ministry, the helicopter launched from one of four Chinese coast guard vessels that had entered Japan’s territorial waters near the Senkaku Islands on Saturday afternoon. The aircraft flew over the area for roughly 15 minutes, prompting Japan to scramble two Air Self-Defense Force fighter jets.
The Japanese Defense Ministry confirmed this marks the fourth known airspace intrusion by China near the disputed islands. The Senkaku/Diaoyu dispute remains one of the key flashpoints in East Asia, with both nations reaffirming their resolve to protect what they see as their territorial rights.
Liu emphasized that China will “resolutely safeguard its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights,” while Tokyo maintains that any incursion into Japanese airspace is unacceptable.
