China Admits Military Plane Entered Japanese Airspace

China has acknowledged that one of its military Y-9 spy planes unintentionally entered Japanese airspace on August 26 due to turbulence, describing the incident as a result of unanticipated circumstances beyond the crew's control. The Japanese government has lodged a strong protest, labeling the incursion a serious violation of its sovereignty. While Chinese officials have promised to take measures to prevent future occurrences, Japanese defense officials remain skeptical about the explanations provided, suggesting that weather conditions did not warrant such a deviation. This incident, which occurred off the coast of Nagasaki Prefecture, marks the first intrusion by a Chinese military aircraft into Japan's airspace. The Japanese Foreign Ministry is committed to closely monitoring Chinese activities in the region following this incident. Both sides have expressed the need for improved communication to avoid similar situations in the future.