Japan Urges China to Halt Risky Fighter Jet Maneuvers Near Japanese Aircraft Over East China Sea
Japan’s Defense Ministry on Friday demanded that China immediately cease what it described as “dangerously close” fighter jet maneuvers near its reconnaissance aircraft over the East China Sea, warning that such actions risk triggering a mid-air collision.
According to Tokyo, Chinese JH-7 fighter-bombers recently flew within 30 meters of a Japan Air Self-Defense Force YS-11EB electronic-intelligence aircraft.
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The ministry confirmed no damage to its aircraft but called the maneuvers “repeated and hazardous.” Japan’s Vice Foreign Minister Takehiro Funakoshi lodged a formal protest with China’s Ambassador Wu Jianghao, calling for an immediate halt to such provocative activity.
Beijing has not responded officially to the latest incident. In prior exchanges, Chinese authorities have accused Japan of conducting close-range surveillance of routine military exercises and insisted that Tokyo bears responsibility for heightening tensions.
The aerial encounters reflect the deepening military unease in the East China Sea, where both countries have long-standing territorial disputes. Japan has repeatedly expressed concern over China’s expanding military footprint, especially near its southwestern islands and surrounding waters.
This is not the first such confrontation. In June, Japan accused a Chinese combat aircraft of flying dangerously close to a Japanese maritime patrol plane in the Pacific, near where two Chinese aircraft carriers were jointly operating—an unusual and highly watched military deployment.
The defense tensions come at a time when Japan and China are tentatively exploring ways to stabilize their broader bilateral relationship. Economic cooperation appears to be regaining momentum, as both nations seek to navigate the uncertainty triggered by U.S. tariff measures.
On Friday, Japan announced the implementation of a new animal health and quarantine agreement with China, which will reopen the door for Japanese beef exports to the Chinese market after a 23-year ban following a 2001 outbreak of bovine spongiform encephalopathy, or mad cow disease.
While the timeline for resuming exports remains undefined, Tokyo views the move as a positive step in rebuilding economic ties.
Still, military risks persist. Japan has begun deploying U.S.-made Osprey aircraft at new bases in its southern islands, part of a broader strategy to reinforce its deterrent capabilities in the face of growing Chinese activity near contested zones.
With both sides trading accusations over aerial brinkmanship, the East China Sea remains a flashpoint where a single miscalculation could escalate into crisis.
Japan’s latest protest underscores the fragile balance between diplomacy and deterrence in an increasingly contested region.