China's Defense Ministry stated Sunday that its handling of Japanese Self-Defense Force aircraft repeatedly entering the East China Sea Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) was "completely legitimate and professional."

Chinese Position:

• Defense Spokesperson Zhang Bing told Xinhua that China "lawfully dispatched fighter jets to track and monitor Japanese reconnaissance aircraft"

• Accused Japan of "close-range surveillance and harassment operations that endanger bilateral maritime/air security"

• Insisted all Chinese actions were "lawful and standard procedure"

Japanese Counterclaims:

• Japan's Foreign Ministry filed an "urgent protest" through Vice Minister Funakoshi, citing:

  • A Chinese JH-7 fighter came within 30 meters of a Japanese YS-11EB surveillance plane last week

  • Another JH-7 approached within 60 meters for 10 minutes

  • In June, a J-15 from China's Shandong carrier closed to 45 meters of a Japanese P-3C patrol aircraft

Technical Details of Incidents:

Regional Context:

• These are the fourth and fifth such incidents reported in 2024

• ADIZ overlaps disputed waters near Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands (controlled by Japan, claimed by China)

• Comes weeks after China-Japan maritime talks failed to ease tensions