The territorial violation by China is the latest in a series of events amplifying tensions between Beijing and Japan.
A Chinese military surveillance plane breached Japanese airspace off the country’s southwestern coast on Monday, marking what Japan’s defense ministry described as the first known incursion by China’s military into its territorial airspace.
According to a ministry official, a Chinese reconnaissance aircraft briefly entered Japanese territory near Nagasaki Prefecture around 11:30 a.m. on Monday. In response, Japan’s Self-Defense Force put fighter jets on high alert and issued a warning to the Chinese aircraft.
While Chinese planes frequently appear in international airspace around Japan, this incident represents the first confirmed entry of a military aircraft into Japan’s territorial airspace.
My reckless, irresponsible “solution” would be to just shoot ’em the fuck down. It’s a good thing I’m not in charge of Japanese border security. I’d probably start World War 3.
Meh, Turkey shot down a Russian jet and nothing happened a handful of years back. Can you really be that mad when a fighter breaching protected airspace is shot down?
It’s not about “mad”, it’s about pushing boundaries. If they decide they want to…
it’s about pushing boundaries.
China is going to keep pushing boundaries until they get punched in the mouth.
Yes, you can.
Russia and Turkey have very different political dynamics than China and Japan.
Also, these types of airspace incursions, followed by intercepts, are pretty standard amongst major powers.
It doesn’t mean they’re benign, but that shooting down Chinese planes intentionally as a response, is something you do if you’re willing and ready for the escalation path to result in open conflict, not simply an escalation.
I’ve got a better solution for you: wall of chain guns firing a curtain of giant bullets straight up all the time. All approved flights will be directed through the part of the curtain that’ll be reloading in sync with their breach.
Unfortunately, bullets fired straight up need to… come down. And the wind means it won’t always land in the same spot.
I still remember some idiot fired a pistol or something straight up at a local fireworks show a few years ago. A little boy died. It was really sad. I don’t think they ever found the guy who did it, either.
… I just googled it. That was ten years ago. Dang…
I mean sometimes they didn’t even mean to be in your airspace, the instruments on the craft just went goofy and now they’re lost. It wouldn’t be cool to shoot someone down just because they don’t know where they are.
(Not saying this is what happened, just that it can happen)
That ought to be fun with all the border disputes. Some islands are claimed by 4 (well, 5) nations:
- Japan
- South Korea
- North Korea (because they claim the south and all their claims)
- Taiwan
- China
My reckless, irresponsible “solution” would be to just shoot ’em the fuck down.
Reconnaissance aircraft are notoriously difficult to hit, due to their high altitude and high speed.
Firing a bunch of ordinance into the sky would just mean raining it back down on your own population.
The Y9 in question here though is slow, fat, and low - max speed of 360kn and a service ceiling of 10,000m. It’s a cargo plane with EW stuff on it.
Then it seems like there’s a leap of logic between “cargo plane” and “reconnaissance aircraft”. Very possible it was just an inexperienced/behind schedule pilot cutting corners on the route.
Seems like a dick move to kill an entire plane full of people because someone decided to short-cut through your airspace.
Reconnaissance aircraft are notoriously difficult to hit, due to their high altitude and high speed.
I mean, maybe in the 80’s? The technological advancements of SAM have basically made speed and altitude mean next to nothing. Now most things depend on being hard to pick up on radar, or like the plane in the article, are just large planes filled with electronic warfare equipment.
Firing a bunch of ordinance into the sky would just mean raining it back down on your own population.
This would have been over the Pacific…
The technological advancements of SAM have basically made speed and altitude mean next to nothing.
Show me the American-made hypersonic air defense missile.
Reconnaissance aircraft are notoriously difficult to hit
With exceptions for the United State’s top shelf stealth planes the Japanese are quite capable of shooting down anything flying in earths atmosphere. In the event that Japanese can’t do it the United States Aircraft Carrier Group assigned to Japan absolutely can.
the Japanese are quite capable of shooting down anything flying in earths atmosphere
Sure. Just put in a call to the Americans to do it for them.
Still not clear why anyone is shooting down Chinese cargo planes.
Wheee.
But in seriousness, if China learned anything from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine it’s that military corruption is a bitch and you need way more equipment than you thought. I expect it’s posturing. Sun Tzu: when you’re weak, appear strong.
Why is China trying to piss off all its neighbors?
At least this time they aren’t claiming most of the South China Sea and ramming Philippine fisherman boats.
I suspect they have something to gain by fueling a climate of geopolitical tension. Maybe they hope someone will turn to them because they’re scared?
I’m not sure what exactly but I’ve got a feeling we’re underestimating their intelligence when we say they’re just posturing or being silly.
But then again, several years ago people thought Trump and Musk had a plan and were just posturing as idiots while playing 4D chess. How wrong they were.
I may just be giving the Chinese government too much credit… But I’m leaning towards no.
Damn that plane looks so much older than it is (2012). It looks like a C-130 had a baby with an ATR-72.
Edit: oh, it’s based on an An-12, no wonder!
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