China accuses Japan of raising tensions
Source: Agencies/Shanghai Daily |
January 12, 2013, Saturday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
CHINA hit out at Japan yesterday for heightening tensions over the Diaoyu Islands, a day after China's air force scrambled two fighters in response to a flight by Japanese jets, the latest incident between the countries concerning the islands.
China scrambled two J-10 fighters over the East China Sea on Thursday after two Japanese F-15s had followed a Chinese military plane on routine patrol, a Chinese Defense Ministry official told a press conference yesterday.
The J-10 fighters were sent to monitor the Japanese fighter jets tailing the Y-8 plane as well as another Japanese reconnaissance plane spotted in the same airspace, the official said.
The Chinese Y-8 was flying over East China Sea oil and gas fields east of Wenzhou in Zhejiang Province when it was followed at close range by the Japanese planes, the ministry said. A third Japanese surveillance plane was flying nearby.
The official said that Japanese military aircraft had been increasingly active in closely scouting Chinese aircraft.
The activity zone of Japanese military aircraft had also expanded recently, which was the root cause of security disputes concerning territorial waters and airspace between the two countries.
The Chinese military will be on high alert and China will resolutely protect the security of its air defense force and uphold its legitimate rights, the official said.
He also called for the Japanese side to respect relevant international laws and to prevent security disputes by taking effective measures.
The Foreign Ministry described the action by the Japanese aircraft as an "exaggeration."
"It is understood that the flight by Chinese military planes in airspace related to the East China Sea was routine," Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei told a regular briefing in Beijing.
"China firmly opposes Japan's moves to gratuitously escalate the situation and create tensions," Hong said.
In Tokyo, Japan's Defense Ministry declined to comment.
It is believed to be the first time Chinese jets had been scrambled against Japanese military planes since tension flared last September over the Chinese islands.
Japan's military has sent up jet fighters several times in recent weeks to intercept Chinese planes approaching airspace over the islands.
The Japanese government is said to have "purchased" three of the islands from a so-called private owner last September, sparking widespread anti-Japan protests across China.
China scrambled two J-10 fighters over the East China Sea on Thursday after two Japanese F-15s had followed a Chinese military plane on routine patrol, a Chinese Defense Ministry official told a press conference yesterday.
The J-10 fighters were sent to monitor the Japanese fighter jets tailing the Y-8 plane as well as another Japanese reconnaissance plane spotted in the same airspace, the official said.
The Chinese Y-8 was flying over East China Sea oil and gas fields east of Wenzhou in Zhejiang Province when it was followed at close range by the Japanese planes, the ministry said. A third Japanese surveillance plane was flying nearby.
The official said that Japanese military aircraft had been increasingly active in closely scouting Chinese aircraft.
The activity zone of Japanese military aircraft had also expanded recently, which was the root cause of security disputes concerning territorial waters and airspace between the two countries.
The Chinese military will be on high alert and China will resolutely protect the security of its air defense force and uphold its legitimate rights, the official said.
He also called for the Japanese side to respect relevant international laws and to prevent security disputes by taking effective measures.
The Foreign Ministry described the action by the Japanese aircraft as an "exaggeration."
"It is understood that the flight by Chinese military planes in airspace related to the East China Sea was routine," Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei told a regular briefing in Beijing.
"China firmly opposes Japan's moves to gratuitously escalate the situation and create tensions," Hong said.
In Tokyo, Japan's Defense Ministry declined to comment.
It is believed to be the first time Chinese jets had been scrambled against Japanese military planes since tension flared last September over the Chinese islands.
Japan's military has sent up jet fighters several times in recent weeks to intercept Chinese planes approaching airspace over the islands.
The Japanese government is said to have "purchased" three of the islands from a so-called private owner last September, sparking widespread anti-Japan protests across China.
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