Tokyo
Act Daily News
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Japan stated Tuesday it “strongly” suspects three Chinese spy balloons entered its airspace between 2019 and 2021.
Three “balloon-shaped flying objects” had been detected between November 2019 and September 2021, the Japanese Ministry of Defense stated, including that these had been “strongly presumed” to be “unmanned reconnaissance” plane flown by China.
The ministry stated it had requested the Chinese authorities to “confirm the facts regarding this matter through diplomatic channels” and strongly requested that this not occur once more.
Beijing on Wednesday rejected Tokyo’s allegations.
“We firmly oppose the Japanese side’s smear campaign against China in the absence of conclusive evidence,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin stated in a daily press briefing.
The Japanese allegations observe the flight of a Chinese high-altitude balloon over the continental United States earlier this month.
US officers have claimed that balloon, which was shot down by a US Air Force jet off the East Coast close to the Carolinas, was half of a big Chinese army surveillance program that has performed at the very least two dozen missions over at the very least 5 continents lately.
China, nonetheless, has claimed it was a civilian analysis vessel blown off target.
Wang, the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, accused Tokyo of falling in line with Washington with its new allegations.
Japan ought to “uphold an objective and impartial position” and “stop following the US” by partaking in “deliberate speculation,” Wang stated.
The Japanese Ministry of Defense warned in its assertion that it might “strive to collect and monitor” any balloons that intruded into Japan’s airspace with out permission.
Asked if Japan Air Self-Defense Force jets would shoot down any unauthorized balloons, Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada stated this was attainable.
“Necessary measures may be taken when deemed necessary to protect the lives and property of citizens,” Hamada stated.
Source: www.cnn.com