Japan warns of ‘expanding and increasing’ Chinese military actions in dispute over dangerous flying claim

Japan said on Monday it had protested strongly against China’s allegations its fighter jets had engaged in “dangerous and unprofessional” behaviour when they scrambled at the weekend as Chinese aircraft flew between Okinawa and Miyako islands.

Mainland Chinese military aircraft flew over waterways near Taiwan on Saturday as part of long-range exercises, Taipei said.

“I have received a report from the defence minister that the Japanese planes did not conduct any close-range interference toward the Chinese military planes ... or threaten the safety of Chinese military planes or its personnel,” Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said.

“The fact that China’s military unilaterally announced something clearly different from the facts is extremely regrettable and harms the improvement of relations between Japan and China, and we have strictly protested to the Chinese side,” he said.

Suga said Japan would watch the actions of the Chinese military, “which are expanding and increasing”, and make every effort towards “firmly protecting our country’s land, sea and air space and, in accordance with international and domestic law, take strict measures against any invasion of our airspace”.