Japan Scrambles Jets After Chinese Aircraft Incursion

Japan's Defense Ministry confirmed a significant breach of its airspace by a Chinese military Y-9 reconnaissance aircraft on Monday, marking the first publicly acknowledged violation of Japanese airspace by China. The aircraft briefly entered the airspace over the Danjo Islands, located west of Kyushu, between 11:29 a.m. and 11:31 a.m. In response, the Japan Air Self-Defense Forces scrambled fighter jets to intercept the aircraft and issued warnings. The Japanese government lodged a strong diplomatic protest with Beijing, summoning a senior official from the Chinese embassy in Tokyo to address the incident. Experts suggest that such incursions may aim to test Japan's military response capabilities. Chinese officials had no immediate comment regarding the situation.