Tokyo, July 14 - On July 9 and 10, 2025, tensions between Japan and China escalated as Chinese JH-7 fighter-bombers flew dangerously close to Japanese Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) YS-11EB electronic intelligence aircraft over the East China Sea. According to Japan’s Ministry of Defense, the incidents occurred in international airspace, with the Chinese jets approaching within 30 meters horizontally on Wednesday and 30 meters vertically on Thursday. These close encounters, lasting 15 and 10 minutes respectively, prompted Tokyo to lodge a formal diplomatic protest, citing the risk of accidental collisions that could further strain bilateral relations. Japan’s Vice Foreign Minister Takehiro Funakoshi summoned Chinese Ambassador Wu Jianghao to express “serious concern” and urged Beijing to prevent such provocative maneuvers in the future. The Japanese government described the approaches as “abnormal,” emphasizing the potential for catastrophic mid-air incidents due to the proximity of the high-speed aircraft.
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The incidents follow a pattern of increasing military assertiveness in the region, particularly around the disputed Senkaku Islands, which Japan administers but China claims as the Diaoyu Islands. Just a month earlier, on June 7 and 8, Chinese J-15 jets from the aircraft carrier Shandong had flown within 45 meters of Japanese P-3C maritime patrol aircraft in the Pacific Ocean, prompting similar protests from Tokyo. In those encounters, a Chinese jet even crossed directly in front of a Japanese aircraft at 900 meters, a maneuver Japan deemed highly dangerous. China, in response to earlier incidents, has accused Japan of conducting close reconnaissance on its routine military activities, asserting that its intercepts are lawful responses to Japanese surveillance flights. Beijing has yet to comment officially on the July incidents, but its previous statements suggest it views Japan’s intelligence-gathering operations as provocative.
The East China Sea remains a flashpoint for Sino-Japanese tensions, driven by competing territorial claims and strategic interests. Japan operates a small fleet of YS-11EB aircraft, among the last of their kind, for electronic intelligence missions, while China has intensified its naval and air operations, including joint exercises involving its Shandong and Liaoning aircraft carriers. These activities underscore China’s expanding military presence, which Japan perceives as a growing threat, particularly in its southwestern regions. The 2013 establishment of China’s Air Defense Identification Zone over the East China Sea, which is not internationally recognized, has further complicated regional dynamics, requiring foreign aircraft to notify Chinese authorities, a demand Japan rejects.
On July 10, Japan’s Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya raised these concerns with his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, during talks in Kuala Lumpur on the sidelines of ASEAN-related meetings. Despite recent economic détente, including agreements on Japanese seafood exports, military frictions persist. Japan’s Defense Ministry reported no damage or injuries in the latest incidents but stressed the need for diplomatic efforts to prevent escalation. The close encounters highlight the delicate balance both nations must navigate to avoid unintended conflicts in a region critical to global security and trade.