Japan scrambled fighter jets after a suspected Chinese drone was spotted near Taiwan, escalating a diplomatic row over planned missile deployments on Yonaguni island.
TOKYO: Japan scrambled military aircraft after detecting a suspected Chinese drone off Yonaguni island near Taiwan.
The defence ministry stated on X that an unmanned aerial vehicle believed to be Chinese passed between Yonaguni Island and Taiwan on Monday.
Regional Japan Air Self-Defense Forces launched aircraft in response to the incident.
Tensions between Tokyo and Beijing have intensified this month following Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s remarks suggesting potential military intervention in any Taiwan attack.
The dispute escalated when China condemned Japan’s decision to proceed with missile deployments on Yonaguni after Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi’s visit.
China’s foreign ministry called the plan “a deliberate attempt to create regional tension and provoke military confrontation”.
Koizumi countered that the Type 03 Medium-Range Surface-to-Air Guided Missiles are “defensive equipment intended to counter aircraft and missiles invading our nation”.
He emphasised the missiles “are not intended to attack other countries” and “clearly do not heighten regional tensions”.
Yonaguni has hosted a Japanese Self-Defense Forces base since 2016 despite initial resident objections.
Taiwan stated that Japan’s military strengthening on Yonaguni “helps maintain security in the Taiwan Strait”.
China claims Taiwan as part of its territory and has threatened force to bring the self-ruled island under its control.
