Arab News Japan

DUBAI: The Japanese Ministry of Defense announced on Wednesday that a Russian helicopter had violated Japan’s airspace in the northern part of the country.

The Air Self-Defense Force scrambled fighter jets against the helicopter. The government also made a strong protest to Russia.

It is unclear whether the incident has anything to do with Russia’s ongoing military operations in Ukraine.

The ministry is closely monitoring movements of the Russian military as the air violation may have been a provocation.

The Russian navy has been active recently, carrying out large-scale fleet operations in the Sea of Japan and the southern part of the Sea of Okhotsk.

According to the ministry, the helicopter stayed in the airspace for dozens of seconds off the southeastern coast of the peninsula around 10:23 a.m. (1:23 a.m. GMT) after flying in from the direction of the northwestern Pacific islands called the Northern Territories in Japan, which are at the center of a long-standing territorial dispute between the two countries.

An ASDF aircraft notified the helicopter that it was approaching Japanese airspace, but it did not change course and entered the airspace, the ministry said.

After warnings were issued, the helicopter turned back without responding to calls from the ASDF.

Considering its flight path, the ministry believes that it was a Russian helicopter.

On Twitter, the Defense Ministry said that Russia’s intensification of its activities in sea and airspace is a concern for Japan, especially with the recent violation of the Asian country’s airspace.

“We will take all possible precautions and surveillance,” the ministry said.

ロシアは２月以降、ウクライナ周辺における軍の動きと呼応する形で、オホーツク海等での演習等を通じ、東西に渡って活動し得る能力を誇示。今般の領空侵犯を含め、現下の情勢下において、我が国周辺海空域におけるロシアの活動の活発化は懸念すべきものであり、警戒監視に万全を期してまいります。 pic.twitter.com/QddrL47N1i

— 防衛省・自衛隊 (@ModJapan_jp) March 2, 2022

Japan’s Joint Staff Office also announced on Twitter on March 1 that there was a risk of violation of Japanese airspace, and a fighter plane from the Air Self Defense forces took emergency measures and responded.

The Ministry of Defense said it will continue to take all possible measures “24 hours and 365 days of the year to protect the peaceful lives of Japan’s territory and its people.”

昨日、太平洋において、領空侵犯のおそれがあったため、空自南西航空方面隊の戦闘機が緊急発進し、対応しました。防衛省・自衛隊は、引き続き、我が国の領域と国民の皆様の平和な暮らしを守るため、２４時間３６５日、対応に万全を期していきます。※写真はイメージ pic.twitter.com/nc6e9Cpcy8

— 防衛省統合幕僚監部 (@jointstaffpa) March 2, 2022

*With JIJI Press