Airspace Clash Over Disputed Islands Fuels Japan-China Tensions

Japan and China have reignited tensions over the East China Sea islands as both nations accuse each other of airspace violations. The disputed territory, known as the Senkaku Islands in Japan and the Diaoyu Islands in China, remains a flashpoint between the two Asian powers.

The Japanese Foreign Ministry announced it had issued a strong diplomatic protest following an incident involving a Chinese helicopter. The aircraft reportedly took off from a Chinese coast guard ship that had entered Japan's territorial waters and violated Japanese airspace for about 15 minutes.

Tokyo condemned the action as a breach of sovereignty, calling it an unlawful intrusion into Japan's airspace. Japan demanded China implement measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.

In response, Japan scrambled fighter jets from its Self-Defense Forces to intercept the helicopter. The Defense Ministry confirmed the quick deployment as a necessary defensive action.

However, China retaliated with its own protest, alleging that a Japanese civilian aircraft violated Chinese airspace. The Chinese Embassy in Tokyo stated its "strong dissatisfaction" over what it described as Japan's serious infringement of Chinese sovereignty.

China's Coast Guard responded by dispatching a helicopter to drive the Japanese aircraft away. Chinese authorities claimed that all measures taken were in line with their domestic laws.

This latest incident marks the first Chinese airspace incursion since August, when a reconnaissance plane entered Japanese airspace near Nagasaki. Japan reports that similar airspace breaches have occurred before in the Senkaku region, sparking recurring diplomatic friction.