F15 Jets Dispatched By Japan Result To Alert Status For China

F15 Jets Dispatched By Japan Result To Alert Status For China

Media reports in Japan revealed that F15 fighters were dispatched by Japan after they detected a marine surveillance plane from China in contested airspace close to disputed East China Sea islands.

Due to this incident, China has indicated that it is already on alert.

Hua Chunying, spokeswoman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, revealed that Beijing will be closely monitoring the actions of Japan particularly in sending fighter planes. She added that the surveillance plane of China was only performing routine patrols in the area.

Hua indicated that China is greatly concerned with the situation and is on alert after Japan dispatched its air self-defense force F15 fighters.

On the other hand, defense officials in Japan revealed that they detected the Y-12 prop-powered plane around 100 kilometers to the north of the disputed islands. Japan calls the islands Senkaku while the Chinese call it Diaoyu. After the F15 jets were sent by Japan, the State Oceanic Administration plane of China left the area.

The relationship between the two Asian powers has been tense due to the disputed islands. A diplomatic dispute ensued between Japan and China after a government plane from China went near the disputed islands. An official protest was lodged by Japan and the ambassador of China was summoned in Tokyo.

The incident was considered as an intrusion into what Japan considers as its airspace, which is the reason for dispatching the F15 jets. On the other hand, China considers the mission of the plane normal.

Posted by James Fried on Wednesday December 26 2012, 4:58 AM EST. Ref: VOA News. All trademarks acknowledged. Filed under World. Comments and Trackbacks closed. Follow responses: RSS 2.0