China Summons Japanese Envoy to Protest "Intrusion into Senkaku Airspace"

Protest Over Civilian Aircraft Flight Near the Senkaku (Diaoyu Dao) Islands

The Chinese government has lodged a strong protest regarding the flight of a Japanese civilian aircraft near the Senkaku Islands (known as Diaoyu Dao in Chinese).

On May 4, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement saying, "Liu Jinsong, Director-General of the Department of Asian Affairs, made a 'stern representation' to Akira Yokochi, Minister at the Japanese Embassy in China," adding, "We strongly protested the intrusion into the airspace over Diaoyu Dao by a Japanese right-wing figure using a civilian aircraft." The term "stern representation" is a Chinese diplomatic expression referring to an official protest through diplomatic channels.

The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated, "Japan must immediately cease such illegal activities and take thorough measures to prevent similar incidents from recurring," warning, "China will firmly safeguard its territorial and maritime sovereignty."

Regarding this incident, the Japanese government maintains that it was actually China that committed the intrusion. According to local Japanese media reports, four vessels belonging to the China Coast Guard entered Japanese territorial waters near the Senkaku Islands around noon the previous day, and a helicopter aboard one of these vessels intruded into Japanese airspace before leaving approximately 15 minutes later. The Japan Air Self-Defense Force reportedly scrambled fighter jets in response.

In response, Zhang Xiaogang, spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of National Defense, refuted the Japanese claims on social media, criticizing them as "irresponsible remarks that distort the facts."

He emphasized, "The essence of the issue is the illegal entry of a Japanese civilian aircraft into Chinese airspace, and the warnings and expulsion measures taken by the China Coast Guard were justified and legitimate."

He also called on the Japanese government to "strictly manage the actions of its citizens and refrain from provocative acts that could negatively impact overall China-Japan relations."