Chinese fighter jets allegedly flew dangerously close to Japanese surveillance aircraft over the East China Sea twice this week, prompting Tokyo to issue a formal diplomatic protest and express “serious concerns” about the risk of accidental collisions.
According to Japan’s defence ministry, the two incidents involved Chinese JH-7 fighter-bombers making “unusual approaches” to Japan Air Self-Defence Force YS-11EB electronic intelligence planes during routine missions in international airspace on Wednesday and Thursday, according to a report in Japan Times.