Reports have emerged that the China Coast Guard helicopter briefly intruded into Japanese airspace near the Senkaku (Chinese name Diaoyu Dao) Islands on the 3rd.
According to Kyodo News and NHK, four vessels from the China Coast Guard entered Japan's territorial waters around the Senkaku Islands at about 12:20 p.m. One helicopter aboard one of the vessels flew into Japanese airspace, leaving 15 minutes later.
The Japan Air Self-Defense Force scrambled fighters in response. The Ministry of Defense is analyzing the purpose of the Chinese helicopter's flight while continuing its vigilance and monitoring activities.
NHK reported, “This marks the fourth confirmed intrusion of a Chinese aircraft into Japanese airspace, with the intrusion around the Senkaku Islands being the third.”
In this regard, the China Coast Guard claimed that a Japanese civilian aircraft intruded into Diaoyu Dao airspace, prompting them to dispatch the helicopter to issue a warning.
According to state-run China Central Television (CCTV), Liu Dejun, the Spokesperson for the China Coast Guard, said, “Our coast guard vessel discovered that a Japanese civilian aircraft intruded into Diaoyu Dao airspace at 11:19 a.m. and exited the airspace at 11:24 a.m.”
Liu Dejun continued, “Thus, the coast guard vessel took necessary management measures according to the law and launched the onboard helicopter to issue warnings and expel it,” adding, “Diaoyu Dao and its associated islands are China's inherent territory, and we urge Japan to immediately cease all illegal activities in this waters.”
The Senkaku Islands are a territory over which Japan and China have a sovereignty dispute. While Japan maintains effective control, China sends vessels to the surrounding waters almost daily.