What Was That Lame Response to Chinese Fighter Jets' Reckless Behavior?
Editorial Board, The Sankei Shimbun 
A Chinese J-15 fighter jet makes an abnormal approach to a Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force P3C patrol aircraft over the Pacific Ocean on June 8. (Photo courtesy of the Ministry of Defense)
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Recently, a Chinese Shenyang J-15 fighter jet launched from China's Shandong aircraft carrier made abnormal approaches towards a Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (MSDF) P-3C patrol aircraft on a routine surveillance mission over the Pacific Ocean.
Two encounters occurred west of Japan's Okinotorishima Island. First, a Chinese fighter jet tracked the MSDF patrol aircraft for approximately 40 minutes on June 7. Then, a J-15 repeated the aggression by tracking Japan's MSDF plane for roughly 80 minutes on June 8. On each day, the Chinese fighters came within about 45 meters of Japan's patrol plane. Moreover, on June 8, the Chinese jet cut across the path of the MSDF aircraft about 900 meters ahead of it.
These Chinese military flight maneuvers were extremely dangerous and unusual and are totally unacceptable.
All monitoring and surveillance activities by the MSDF aircraft complied with international rules. They presented no threat or problem whatsoever. China should admit and apologize for its wrongdoing in flying its fighter jets in an aggressive and hazardous manner near the Japanese propeller patrol plane.
Unrepentant China
Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Takehiro Funakoshi conveyed Japan's serious concerns about the incidents to Chinese Ambassador to Japan Wu Jianghao. He also called for China to prevent any recurrence of such incidents.
However, it was a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson who responded. For the ministry, the spokesperson asserted China's activities were fully consistent with international law and practices and called on Japan to stop its "dangerous behavior" of "close-range reconnaissance."
It goes to prove the old adage, "A thief is by nature defiant."
Moreover, an unrepentant Chinese military will likely repeat its provocations.
Yoshihide Yoshida, Chief of Staff of the Joint Staff of Japan's Self-Defense Forces, directly responded to the matter. At a press conference, he stated: "We will be implementing even stricter vigilance and surveillance. We recognize that [the approach] was intentional. If we relax our vigilance and surveillance, it will only encourage. We will firmly maintain our will and capability to deter,"
Yoshida's statement evinces his strong determination to defend the country. We look to him and the SDF to fulfill their mission.
Lacking in Japan's Leadership
The reactions of Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya, however, have been pathetic. Such an aggressive approach by foreign combat aircraft is a problem comparable to an airspace violation. Why didn't the Prime Minister and foreign minister lodge firm protests with Beijing rather than just expressing "serious concern?"
Remonstrations were made to the Chinese side at levels below the Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs from June 10. That was two days after the second incident. Yet, the vice minister himself did not make a request for another two days, until June 12. That was five days after the first incident. It was also the day after the Ministry of Defense made the incidents public. Any national leader who cannot express the nation's rightful anger is not fit to represent the country. That includes the Prime Minister and the foreign minister.
United States Ambassador to Japan George Glass wrote about the incident on the social media platform X.
He outright stated that the dangerous maneuvers by the Chinese fighter "put Japanese crewmembers' lives in peril." Moreover, he labeled the Chinese aircraft's actions "reckless aggression."
It is high time that Japan's Prime Minister, Cabinet members, and other politicians speak out so forthrightly.
This incident occurred while two Chinese aircraft carriers, the Shandong and Liaoning, were deployed simultaneously in the Western Pacific. It was the first time for such a joint mobilization.
The Liaoning was also the first Chinese aircraft carrier to operate east of the Second Island Chain, which stretches from Japan's Ogasawara Islands to the US territory of Guam.
Unless it puts more effort into Pacific Ocean defense, Japan will be putting itself at risk.
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Author: Editorial Board, The Sankei Shimbun
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