Japan sent fighters to monitor a suspected Chinese UAV as it flew over the waters between the forward island of Yonaguni and Taiwan island.
The Japanese Ministry of Defense today said that on November 15, the country’s military discovered an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), believed to be from China, flying between Yonaguni Island and Taiwan Island. Yonaguni is a frontline island in southern Japan, located about 100 km from Taiwan.
Fighters from Japan’s Southwest Air Defense Command were dispatched to monitor this aircraft. The map released by the Japanese Ministry of Defense shows that the UAV flies near Yonaguni Island from north to south, circling at least once before returning to its starting point.
China has not commented on the information from the Japanese Ministry of Defense.
Direction of suspected Chinese UAV moving near Japan’s forward island on November 15. Graphics: Japanese Ministry of National Defense
The above incident occurred one day before the Chinese coast guard announced the deployment of a patrol fleet in the waters around the disputed Senkaku/Diaoyu islands, which Japan controls, in the East China Sea.
Tensions between Beijing and Tokyo increased after Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi announced on November 7 that Japan could take military action if Taiwan was attacked. China reacted violently after this statement and summoned the Japanese ambassador for the first time in two years.
Chinese officials on November 14 advised citizens not to go to Japan. Tokyo then called on Beijing “to take appropriate measures”, but did not give further details.
Mr. Masaaki Kanai, head of the Department of Asia and Oceania of the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, arrived in China today to meet his counterpart Liu Jinsong to ease escalating tensions with China.
Japan’s F-15J fighter flies near Gifu city on October 9. Image: Jet Photos
China always views Taiwan as an inseparable part of its territory. China advocates dialogue and peaceful unification, but has repeatedly affirmed that it does not rule out the use of force to reclaim the island.
Previous Japanese leaders often avoided publicly mentioning the island of Taiwan when discussing military scenarios in the region. This is considered Japan’s “strategic ambiguity” policy and is supported by its US ally.