Photo/Illutration A Chinese Y-9 intelligence-gathering aircraft that violated Japan’s territorial airspace (Provided by the Defense Ministry)

Amid the escalation of Chinese military activities in Japan’s vicinity, a Chinese military aircraft was confirmed to have intruded into Japanese airspace on Aug. 26.

Not only was this a clear violation of Japan’s sovereignty, but also a dangerous act that could have led to an accidental clash.

We strongly demand that China ensure that this will not happen again. We also stress the crucial importance of communication between Tokyo and Beijing to prevent any heightening of tensions in the region.

According to the Defense Ministry, an intelligence-gathering plane of the Chinese military intruded into Japanese airspace off the Danjo Islands in Nagasaki Prefecture before noon on Aug. 26.

The Air Self-Defense Force scrambled two of its fighters as a warning. The Chinese plane reportedly departed after about two minutes.

An “encounter” between military planes can lead to grave consequences, as did the 2001 clash off Hainan Island in the South China Sea between a U.S. electronic reconnaissance plane and a Chinese fighter plane.

It was only natural that the Japanese vice minister of foreign affairs summoned China’s charge d’affaires ad interim to the Foreign Ministry and lodged a strong protest.

The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman stated on Aug. 27 that China has no intention of intruding into the airspace of any country. If so, why was the intelligence-gathering plane in Japan’s airspace the day before?

Some Defense Ministry and SDF officials are saying that Beijing wanted to test Japan’s response, while others think the plane simply took a wrong course and ended up in Japanese airspace.

We demand a clear explanation from Beijing.

China is expanding its military activities in the skies and seas surrounding Japan, not only around the Senkaku Islands. In fiscal 2023, the SDF scrambled jets 669 times, more than 70 percent of which--or 479--were directed at Chinese aircraft.

In reaction to China’s intimidation of Taiwan as well as aggressive maritime advances in the East China Sea and the South China Sea, Japan is collaborating with the United States, the Philippines and others to quickly boost their collective deterrent power.

Japan has also bolstered its security cooperation with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and an aircraft carrier of the Italian Navy recently called at a Japanese port for the first time.

But the structure of “using force against force” may only serve to destabilize the region.

Early last month, a Maritime SDF destroyer strayed into Chinese territorial waters, which the Chinese foreign ministry objected to as an “illegal and inappropriate act” that had not been approved by Chinese law.

To accurately understand one another’s intentions and avert the escalation of tensions due to misunderstanding, Tokyo and Beijing need to remain in close dialogue on every level.

In 2018, defense authorities of Japan and China started operating an “air-sea liaison mechanism” to prevent unforeseen circumstances from escalating into a military conflict or diplomatic crisis.

And in March last year, a hotline was opened between the Chinese and Japanese defense authorities.

We hope these communication channels will be used to the fullest extent to nurture mutual trust.

--The Asahi Shimbun, Aug. 28

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