Tokyo expressed firm objections on Thursday after there was a close encounter between a Chinese military plane and a patrol aircraft from Japan's Maritime Self-Defence Force (MSDF) in the Pacific Ocean over international waters. Tokyo urged China to take measures so such incidents do not happen in the future.
While speaking at a news conference, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi acknowledged that Japan had officially informed China through diplomatic as well as military channels of communication.
"The government has informed the Chinese side in a serious manner of its concerns, including those to the Chinese ambassador residing in Tokyo, through the vice foreign minister of affairs, and demanded very strongly that such incidents not recur," Hayashi said.
Although stopping short of speculating about Beijing's intentions, Hayashi highlighted the threat that could be posed by the Chinese plane's erratic flight patterns.
"We will not make any speculation on what China meant (by the manoeuvres), but these strange approaches by Chinese military aircraft had the possibility of leading to a collision," he cautioned.
Hayashi reiterated Japan's pledge to protect its territory and keep itself aware of the situation near its periphery.
"Japan will not spare any effort to maintain vigilance and surveillance activities in the airspace and waters around Japan to resolutely defend the territorial waters, airspace, and territorial rights of Japan," he insisted.
The attack follows just days after the Japanese Defence Ministry announced earlier this week that two of China's aircraft carriers—Shandong and Liaoning—were simultaneously observed operating in the Pacific Ocean for the first time.
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