Chinese bombers fly close to Japan’s Kii Peninsula

August 25, 2017

TOKYO- Chinese bombers flew close to the Kii Peninsula in western Japan for the first time ever on Thursday, Japanese government officials said Friday.

Japan will keep a close watch on Chinese activities, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told a press conference.

He said, "The Japanese government will remain on alert to ensure the country's security in territory, territorial water and space." Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera told a separate press conference that Japan has conveyed its concern about the flight to China through diplomatic channels.

"Flights over the high seas pose no problems under international law, but Japan needs to analyze the intentions of the Chinese side," Onodera said.

Six Chinese bombers passed between the main island of Okinawa Prefecture and the island of Miyako in the southernmost Japan prefecture and flew close to the Kii Peninsula on Japan's Pacific coast before returning to the East China Sea, the Defense Ministry said.

In Naha, four Chinese coast guard ships entered Japanese territorial waters near the Senkaku Islands in the southernmost Japan prefecture of Okinawa on Friday.

It was the first such intrusion by Chinese government ships since Aug. 18 and the 22nd this year.

According to the Japan Coast Guard's 11th regional headquarters in Naha, the capital of Okinawa, the Haijing 2101, Haijing 2166, Haijing 2502 and Haijing 33115 crossed into Japanese waters at a point north-northwest of Uotsurijima, the largest of the Japanese-administrated island group in the East China Sea, between around 11:10 a.m. (2:10 a.m. GMT) and 11:25 a.m.

The four ships left the waters at a point west-southwest of Uotsurijima between around 12:40 p.m. and 1 p.m.

The islands are claimed by China, where they are known as Diaoyu. Jiji Press