Japan protests China’s ‘extremely regrettable’ lack of communication before satellite launch
- China set up no-fly and no-sail zones in the East China Sea before the launch on Sunday, given the possibility of falling debris
- Tokyo’s foreign minister said he had ‘strongly requested’ a ‘detailed explanation’ to ensure the safety of Japanese vessels, but no response came
“It is extremely regrettable,” Hayashi told a House of Representatives session, noting Japan had “strongly requested an appropriate response, including a detailed explanation” from China before the rocket was launched on Sunday, he said.
Beijing did not respond to Tokyo’s requests, according to a Japanese Foreign Ministry source. There have been no reports of damage from rocket debris so far.
China set up no-fly and no-sail zones in the East China Sea before the launch, given the possibility of falling debris. The areas were located north of Taiwan and near the Diaoyu Islands, islets Japan administers and calls the Senkakus. The latter area covered a part of what Japan claims as its economic exclusive zone.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said on Thursday that Japan had urged China to ensure the safety of Japanese vessels operating near the area.