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Japan Scrambles F-15 Fighter Jets After Chinese Plane Enters Disputed Islands’ Airspace

Dec. 13, 2012 7:45am
Chinese Plane Seen Above Japans Disputed Islands | Jets Scrambled

In this photo released by Japan Coast Guard 11th Regional Coast Guard, a Chinese airplane flies in Japanese airspace above the islands known as Senkaku in Japanese and Diaoyu in Chinese in southwestern Japan Thursday, Dec. 13, 2012. Credit: AP

TOKYO (AP) — A Chinese airplane was spotted Thursday above small islands controlled by Tokyo but claimed by Beijing, the first time a Chinese aircraft allegedly violated airspace over the islands and the latest in a brewing territorial spat.

Japan levied a formal protest later in the day, but China said it was merely carrying out a normal operation.

The chief government spokesman said the Chinese plane entered Japanese air space in the morning. The Defense Agency said four Japanese F-15 jets headed to the area Thursday morning, but the Chinese plane, a Y-12, a nonmilitary type of aircraft, was nowhere to be seen by the time they got there. The Foreign Ministry said a formal protest was sent to the Chinese government through the embassy in Japan.

The islands known as Senkaku in Japanese and Diaoyu in Chinese have been at the center of a territorial dispute. The purchase of the islands by the Japanese government earlier this year from private Japanese owners set off massive anti-Japanese rallies in China.

“I want to stress that these activities are completely normal. The Diaoyu and its affiliated islands are China’s inherent territory since ancient times,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said of the plane. “China requires the Japanese side stop illegal activities in the waters and airspace of the Diaoyu islands.”

It was the first time a Chinese plane entered Japanese air space over the disputed islands, as the two previous reported violations were by other nations, in 1979 by a Soviet plane and in 1994 by a plane from Taiwan, Defense Agency official Takashi Inoue said.

U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Kurt Campbell, while noting he did not yet know the specifics of the latest incident, urged calm, while noting the U.S. does not “take a position on the sovereignty of these islands.”

“The security treaty between the United States and Japan applies to any provocative set of circumstances,” he told reporters at the U.S. Embassy in Kuala Lumpur during an Asian tour. “We are encouraging all sides to take appropriate steps so that there will be no misunderstanding or miscalculation that could trigger an environment that would be antithetical to peace and stability.”

Japanese ships have been patrolling the area around the islands in the East China Sea, on the lookout for approaching Chinese ships. Chinese ships have darted in and out the waters in that area in recent months.

Some analysts say China-Japan tensions are at their highest in years. Japanese exports have tumbled since relations soured.

Several candidates in the Dec. 16 parliamentary election are pushing for a more assertive and hawkish Japan, partly in response to the island controversy, including former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, head of the main opposition Liberal Democratic Party.

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Comments (14)

  • BlazingPatriot
    Posted on December 13, 2012 at 10:52pm

    China need more area for carry-out restaurant. \ /

    Take Sushi out, put Egg Foo Yung in.

    Report this comment

    BlazingPatriot  
  • DZ-015
    Posted on December 13, 2012 at 9:35am

    These islands properly belong to the nationalist Chinese government of Taiwan. They came under the control of imperial Japan when it annexed Taiwan in 1895. They should have gone back to China fifty years later at the end of World War II, but were somehow lumped in with the Ryukyu Islands which were occupied and separately administered by the USA until 1972 when, by treaty, Japanese control was restored. Since the islands were never part of the Ryukyus, they should have gone back to Taiwan then, if not sooner. This was about the same time the US recognized the PRC, and the mistake might have caused problems, so the can was simply kicked down the road.

    Report this comment

    DZ-015  
  • cloudsofwar
    Posted on December 13, 2012 at 8:55am

    the chinese have long memories they have not forgotten that the japs attack them at the start of WW2. old scores to be settled? they don’t ever forget or forgive.

    Report this comment

    cloudsofwar  
  • BehindBlueEyes
    Posted on December 13, 2012 at 8:49am

    Won’t be long before the commie Putin claims Alaska is inherent territory since ancient times.

    Report this comment

    BehindBlueEyes  
    • cloudsofwar
      Posted on December 13, 2012 at 8:59am

      sorry the russkies cant have alaska we bought it from them a long time ago. but with obama he might give it to them.

      Report this comment

      cloudsofwar  
    • kaydeebeau
      Posted on December 13, 2012 at 11:38am

      Well since O has given some Alaskan islands to Russia already…..not much of a stretch to think the rest could be given over

      Report this comment

      kaydeebeau  
  • OUTLAW_WEALTH
    Posted on December 13, 2012 at 8:40am

    No one really owns any property anyway, it belongs to the BORG collective of which we are all a part. An insignificant, meaningless part. Long Live the BORG! Amen and amen.

    Report this comment

    OUTLAW_WEALTH  
  • scrapadapolis
    Posted on December 13, 2012 at 8:37am

    Would have been nice to know that they caught the plane and “poof it fell of the radar”The US and Japan really need to stop pussyfooting around China and just spank them like the children they are.Since when do the children tell the adults what to do?

    Report this comment

    scrapadapolis  
  • ginger100
    Posted on December 13, 2012 at 8:32am

    China will be claiming the Aleutian islands as there ancient homelands before long, bye bye Japan part of future Eastasia

    Report this comment

    ginger100  
  • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
    Posted on December 13, 2012 at 8:31am

    So how far will this escalate and when will war be declared?

    Report this comment

    Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  

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