On Monday, Japanese fighter planes shot warning flares at a Russian surveillance plane that entered Japanese airspace near Rebun Island off Hokkaido’s northern shore. According to Japan’s Defense Minister Minoru Kihara, a Russian Il-38 was detected three times during a five-hour flight in the region, each time lasting up to a minute.
This occurred shortly after Chinese and Russian vessels were seen traveling over Japan’s northern shore in a military drill announced earlier this month.
The airspace breach prompted Japan to scramble F-15 and F-35 fighter fighters. Japan used flares for the first time after the Russian jet did not change course after repeated warnings. Minister Kihara called the incursion “extremely regrettable” and said Japan had strongly protested with Russia to prevent such violations.
Kihara said, “We will not hesitate to use them if needed in the future.” Flares were legal and essential to safeguard Japan’s airspace.
Japanese defense authorities are worried about China-Russia military cooperation and China’s expanding presence in Japan’s oceans and airspace. These worries have caused Japan to reinforce its fortifications in the southwest, especially around isolated islands vital to national security.
Japan has had many airspace accidents this year. In late August, a Chinese Y-9 surveillance aircraft briefly penetrated southern Japan’s airspace, while Russian military jets flew near southern Japan in September. The Chinese aircraft carrier Liaoning and two warships recently approached Japan.
About 70% of Japan’s 669 fighter jet scrambles from April 2023 to March 2024 included Chinese aircraft. Not all were direct airspace violations.
Japan and Russia have been unable to sign a peace treaty owing to their lengthy territorial dispute over a series of islands acquired by the Soviet Union during World War II.
