Japan Scrambles Jets After China Aircraft 'Violates' Airspace: Defence Ministry

Printed Chinese and Japanese flags are seen in this illustration, July 21, 2022. (Reuters)

Japan's defense ministry scrambled jets after a Chinese reconnaissance aircraft briefly breached its airspace. It was the first such incident, prompting a diplomatic protest

Japan’s defence ministry said it had scrambled jets against a Chinese reconnaissance aircraft that had breached its airspace for a few minutes on Monday morning.

The ministry said it was the first time for a Chinese military aircraft to breach Japan’s airspace, adding that the government had lodged a strong protest against Beijing through diplomatic channels.

The aircraft was identified as a Y-9 reconnaissance plane that flew over the Danjo Islands to the west of the southern island of Kyushu between around 11:29 a.m. and 11:31 a.m.

(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed - Reuters)