Japan announced that it had sent planes to Yonaguni Island - the closest Japanese island to Taiwan - after detecting a Chinese drone there, Agence France-Presse reported, quoted by BTA.
This comes amid renewed tensions between Beijing and Tokyo.
“We have confirmed that a drone suspected of being Chinese flew into the airspace between Yonaguni Island and Taiwan yesterday“, Japan's Defense Ministry announced on the social network “Ex“. The Japanese Air Force has “sent planes“ in response.
China reacted sharply, calling Japan's plans to deploy medium-range surface-to-air missiles on the southwestern islands a "provocation" and warning that it could lead to military confrontation.
Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi said the missiles were "not intended to attack other countries" and would not contribute to increasing regional tensions.
Tensions between the two countries have increased since Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said on November 7 that Japanese military intervention would be justified in the event of operations against Taiwan. China considers Taiwan part of its territory and considers these statements to be provocative.
The Japanese Self-Defense Forces have had a base on Yonaguni since 2016 and are planning to deploy medium-range surface-to-air missiles to defend the island from air and missile attacks.