China’s Unusually Close Approach to Japanese Aircraft

Ministry of Defense (MOD) announced that its aircraft was closely approached by a bomber of Chinese Force in the air above the high sea in the East China Sea for twice in July. Japan expressed its concern on possible collision through diplomatic channel and requested measures not to repeat that kind of case. It was the second opportunity that Chinese aircraft closely approaches Japanese aircraft within about a month. Japan is analyzing China’s intention of reiterating military actions toward Japan. 

According to the announcement of MOD, an intelligence-gathering aircraft affiliated to Air Self-defense Force, YS-11EB, was approached by a Chinese fighter jet, JH-7, as close as horizontal 30 meters and vertical 60 meters for 15 minutes between 10:50 and 11:05 in the morning of July 9th. A Chinese JH-7 also approached Japanese YS-11EB for as close as horizontal 60 meters and vertical 30 meters for 10 minutes between 10:00 and 10:10 in the morning of July 10th.

 

Japanese aircraft was in ordinary patrol and observation in the air above the open sea of the East China Sea in each case. The MOD found such a case of unusually close approach can cause accidental collision between both forces and expressed serious concern and requested not to repeat the case. The ministry also announced that the aircraft of Air Self-defense Force or its personnel suffered from no damage.

 

Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs, Takeshi Iwaya, expressed serious concern to Chinese Foreign Minister Wan Yi in the meeting in Malaysia on July 10th.

 

Beijing dismissed Japan’s claims, arguing that Japanese aircraft had engaged in repeated close-in surveillance effort in China’s air defense identification zone over the East China Sea. “Our response was entirely legitimate, reasonable, and conducted in a professional and standard manner,” said Jiang Bin, a spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense of China. The spokesperson said that close-in reconnaissance and harassment by Japanese military vessels and aircraft are sources of maritime and air security risks between China and Japan.

 

An incident of unusually close approach of Chinese aircraft to aircraft of Japanese Air Self-defense Force has occurred above the high sea in the Pacific Ocean in June 7th and 8th. In this case, a Chinese J-15 fighter jet installed on an aircraft carrier, Shandong, crossed only 900 meters ahead of P-3C patrol aircraft of Japan Maritime Self-defense Force. Both aircrafts were flying at the same altitude.

 

In the sea around Senkaku Islands, two Chinese vessels with the coast guard violated Japan’s territorial waters for consecutive three days, chasing a Japanese fishing boat in early July. Pressures on Japanese aircrafts and a boat by Chinese military or police contradict to softer attitude in China’s economic diplomacy as seen in lifting ban on Japanese seafoods or resumption of importing Japanese beef. Japan recognizes different approaches of Beijing toward Tokyo between military and economy, inviting skepticism on China’s intention to deal with Japan.

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