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A #Japanese patrol plane flies over the disputed territory, known as the Senkaku islands in Japan and Diaoyu islands in China. (Credit: AFP)
Japan and China have accused each other of deliberate and dangerous actions in the airspace above disputed territory in the East China Sea.
Japan says Chinese fighter jets flew within metres of its military aircraft while China says Japanese aircraft intruded into its air defence zone.
The incidents happened on Saturday during a joint naval drill by China and Russia in the northern East China Sea near Japan's Senkaku islands, which China also claims and calls the Diaoyus.
The incidents took place near where the countries' air defence identification zones overlap.
Japan has accused China of "dangerous" manoeuvres, saying two Chinese SU-27 jets flew within metres of a Japanese OP-3C surveillance plane and a Japanese YS-11EB plane.
A Japanese Defence Ministry spokesman says the Chinese fighters flew as close as 30 metres in one instance and 50 metres in the other.
However, China's Defence Ministry says it scrambled jets in the East China Sea after Japanese aircraft intruded into its air defence zone.
A statement on the Defence Ministry's website says Japan's aircraft then carried out "dangerous actions".
It says "no fly" notices had been issued before the exercises with Russia.
"Japanese military planes intruded on the exercise's airspace without permission and carried out dangerous actions," China's statement said.
"[It was] a serious violation of international laws and standards which could have easily caused a misunderstanding and even led to a mid-air accident."
Tokyo has protested to Beijing over the incidents through diplomatic channels.
"They were dangerous acts that could lead to an accident," Japanese defence minister Itsunori Onodera said.
"The Japanese crew reported that the fighters were flying with missiles, which raised the tension as they handled the situation.
"I consider the [Chinese fighters] acted out of rule."
China raised regional tensions in November when it declared an air defence identification zone covering the area, which overlaps a similar Japanese zone.
AFP/Reuters
Japan says Chinese fighter jets flew within metres of its military aircraft while China says Japanese aircraft intruded into its air defence zone.
The incidents happened on Saturday during a joint naval drill by China and Russia in the northern East China Sea near Japan's Senkaku islands, which China also claims and calls the Diaoyus.
The incidents took place near where the countries' air defence identification zones overlap.
Japan has accused China of "dangerous" manoeuvres, saying two Chinese SU-27 jets flew within metres of a Japanese OP-3C surveillance plane and a Japanese YS-11EB plane.
A Japanese Defence Ministry spokesman says the Chinese fighters flew as close as 30 metres in one instance and 50 metres in the other.
However, China's Defence Ministry says it scrambled jets in the East China Sea after Japanese aircraft intruded into its air defence zone.
A statement on the Defence Ministry's website says Japan's aircraft then carried out "dangerous actions".
It says "no fly" notices had been issued before the exercises with Russia.
"Japanese military planes intruded on the exercise's airspace without permission and carried out dangerous actions," China's statement said.
"[It was] a serious violation of international laws and standards which could have easily caused a misunderstanding and even led to a mid-air accident."
Tokyo has protested to Beijing over the incidents through diplomatic channels.
"They were dangerous acts that could lead to an accident," Japanese defence minister Itsunori Onodera said.
"The Japanese crew reported that the fighters were flying with missiles, which raised the tension as they handled the situation.
"I consider the [Chinese fighters] acted out of rule."
China raised regional tensions in November when it declared an air defence identification zone covering the area, which overlaps a similar Japanese zone.
AFP/Reuters
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