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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
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| China Calls Japan the Aggressor in Flybys Over Sea | China Calls Japan the Aggressor in Flybys Over Sea |
| (2 months later) | |
| HONG KONG — China’s Ministry of National Defense accused Japan on Thursday of airborne brinkmanship over the East China Sea, rejecting Tokyo’s account of the latest close encounters between military aircraft from the two increasingly estranged countries. | |
| The official Chinese rejection of the Japanese version of events was predictable, but the vehement wording from Beijing showed the bitterness that has built up between the two neighbors. The Chinese defense ministry spokesman, Senior Col. Geng Yansheng, said that in two incidents on Wednesday, Japanese military aircraft flew “abnormally close” to Chinese air force planes — the opposite of the account from Japan’s Defense Ministry. | The official Chinese rejection of the Japanese version of events was predictable, but the vehement wording from Beijing showed the bitterness that has built up between the two neighbors. The Chinese defense ministry spokesman, Senior Col. Geng Yansheng, said that in two incidents on Wednesday, Japanese military aircraft flew “abnormally close” to Chinese air force planes — the opposite of the account from Japan’s Defense Ministry. |
| “For some time, Japan has engaged in close-up tailing, monitoring and interfering with Chinese vessels and aircraft, risking the safety of the vessels and aircraft,” Colonel Geng said in a statement posted on the ministry’s website. Japan’s behavior, he said, had “malign intentions and totally exposed its hypocrisy and two-facedness in relations with China.” | “For some time, Japan has engaged in close-up tailing, monitoring and interfering with Chinese vessels and aircraft, risking the safety of the vessels and aircraft,” Colonel Geng said in a statement posted on the ministry’s website. Japan’s behavior, he said, had “malign intentions and totally exposed its hypocrisy and two-facedness in relations with China.” |
| The Japanese Defense Ministry had said that on Wednesday morning, Chinese fighter jets flew near two Japanese propeller-driven reconnaissance airplanes over the East China Sea. The Chinese jets flew so close that the crew of one Japanese craft photographed what appeared to be missiles on the underside of the jets, the ministry said. | The Japanese Defense Ministry had said that on Wednesday morning, Chinese fighter jets flew near two Japanese propeller-driven reconnaissance airplanes over the East China Sea. The Chinese jets flew so close that the crew of one Japanese craft photographed what appeared to be missiles on the underside of the jets, the ministry said. |
| The Chinese defense ministry, however, asserted that Japan was responsible for that encounter and another dangerously close one. On Tuesday morning, it said, two Japanese F-15 jets came as close as 100 feet to a Chinese Tupolev Tu-154 medium-range patrol plane, “seriously affecting the Chinese plane’s flying safety.” | The Chinese defense ministry, however, asserted that Japan was responsible for that encounter and another dangerously close one. On Tuesday morning, it said, two Japanese F-15 jets came as close as 100 feet to a Chinese Tupolev Tu-154 medium-range patrol plane, “seriously affecting the Chinese plane’s flying safety.” |
| On the same morning, the ministry said, the two Japanese reconnaissance planes flew into China’s air defense identification zone, prompting Chinese fighter jets to follow the planes at about 500 feet. Japan has ignored the Chinese air identification zone since Beijing declared it late last year. | On the same morning, the ministry said, the two Japanese reconnaissance planes flew into China’s air defense identification zone, prompting Chinese fighter jets to follow the planes at about 500 feet. Japan has ignored the Chinese air identification zone since Beijing declared it late last year. |
| China’s ambassador to Japan, Cheng Yonghua, said in Tokyo that the two Japanese reconnaissance planes had been tailing the Chinese Tupolev aircraft, leading to the dangerous succession of close flybys, reported Xinhua, the state-run news agency. | China’s ambassador to Japan, Cheng Yonghua, said in Tokyo that the two Japanese reconnaissance planes had been tailing the Chinese Tupolev aircraft, leading to the dangerous succession of close flybys, reported Xinhua, the state-run news agency. |
| In his statement, Colonel Geng said: “The Chinese pilots’ behavior was professional and regular, and they exercised restraint. The actions of the Japanese pilots were dangerous and clearly of a provocative nature.” | In his statement, Colonel Geng said: “The Chinese pilots’ behavior was professional and regular, and they exercised restraint. The actions of the Japanese pilots were dangerous and clearly of a provocative nature.” |
| Japan, he said, is intent on “ruining the image of our country and its military, and of concocting regional tensions.” China will consider taking further actions, he said, without elaborating. The statement was accompanied by footage, apparently taken from the Tupolev Tu-154, showing a Japanese fighter jet flying in close parallel formation. | Japan, he said, is intent on “ruining the image of our country and its military, and of concocting regional tensions.” China will consider taking further actions, he said, without elaborating. The statement was accompanied by footage, apparently taken from the Tupolev Tu-154, showing a Japanese fighter jet flying in close parallel formation. |
| Relations between Beijing and Tokyo have also been soured by disputes over Japan’s past invasion and occupation of China and other Asian countries. But the territorial disputes in the East China Sea represent the most dangerous dimension of their tensions, especially given the risk of close encounters between ships and planes going awry. | Relations between Beijing and Tokyo have also been soured by disputes over Japan’s past invasion and occupation of China and other Asian countries. But the territorial disputes in the East China Sea represent the most dangerous dimension of their tensions, especially given the risk of close encounters between ships and planes going awry. |
| Late last month, the Chinese and Japanese governments also exchanged denunciations after Chinese fighter planes flew as close as 100 feet to Japanese reconnaissance planes over the same area. | Late last month, the Chinese and Japanese governments also exchanged denunciations after Chinese fighter planes flew as close as 100 feet to Japanese reconnaissance planes over the same area. |
| On Wednesday, the Japanese defense minister, Itsunori Onodera, called the latest flybys “an extremely dangerous action.” | On Wednesday, the Japanese defense minister, Itsunori Onodera, called the latest flybys “an extremely dangerous action.” |