Tokyo expressed unease on Thursday over Chinese military and maritime activity near disputed islands that Japan controls, as China defended a flight by one of its fighter jets near Japanese airspace.
Japan had scrambled fighter jets on Wednesday to keep watch on a Chinese early warning plane flying over international waters between Japan’s southern Okinawa island and an outer island relatively close to the disputed area in the East China Sea.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe expressed concern over the sighting.
I would like to share an understanding that we need to observe a rule of law, not a rule by force
“It was an unusual action that we have never seen before. We’ll keep monitoring it with great interest,” Abe said on Thursday before leaving for a trip that will take him to Malaysia, Singapore and the Philippines.
During his travels, Abe plans to discuss ways to cooperate on maritime security, officials said. “I would like to share an understanding that we need to observe a rule of law, not a rule by force,” Abe said.
The Chinese Defence Ministry issued a statement defending the right of its aircraft to operate in the area.
The training flight was a “scheduled annual arrangement that was not directed at any specific countries or targets and was in accordance with relevant international law and practice,” China’s official Global Times newspaper quoted an unidentified ministry spokesman as saying.