Japan protests against approach of Chinese fighter jet

Japan on Thursday expressed "deep concern" to Chinese authorities after a Chinese Air Force fighter jet repeatedly followed a Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force patrol plane during surveillance operations on the high seas.

A Chinese Shenyang J-15 fighter jet shadowed a Japanese P-3C maritime patrol aircraft in the Pacific Ocean for 40 minutes on Saturday, June 7, and for another 80 minutes on Sunday, June 8, the Japanese Defense Ministry said.

During these approaches, the Chinese fighter flew about 45 meters from the Japanese plane and crossed in front of it at a distance of approximately 900 meters, practically at the same altitude, a maneuver classified as “dangerous” by the Japanese government.

In a statement released, the Tokyo Executive indicated that the revelation of the episode was made only after a careful analysis of the information collected and interviews with the crew members, who did not suffer any injuries.

The ministry stressed that the crossing maneuver carried out by the J-15 “was not necessary for operational purposes” and warned of the risk of the fighter’s exhaust gases interfering with the flight of the Japanese patrol plane.

“Given that these unusual approaches by Chinese military aircraft may lead to accidental collisions, we express our deep concern and strongly urge measures to prevent a recurrence of such incidents,” the source said.

The ministry also published two photographs taken from the Japanese plane, in which the Chinese fighter jet armed with missiles can be seen flying very close and at almost the same altitude.

Tokyo recalled that similar incidents had occurred in the past, notably in May and June 2014, when Chinese fighter jets approached Japanese aircraft on surveillance missions in the East China Sea, prompting formal protests from Japan.