Chinese defense spokesperson urges Japan to stop provocative acts that complicate situation in the sea and airspace of China's Diaoyu Dao

Chinese defense spokesperson urges Japan to stop provocative acts that complicate situation in the sea and airspace of China's Diaoyu Dao

Source： China Military Online Editor：Li Jiayao 2025-05-04 18:38:05

BEIJING, May 4 -- "China urges the Japanese side to strictly restrain its citizens' activities and stop provocative acts that complicate the situation in the sea and airspace of China's Diaoyu Dao," said a Chinese defense spokesperson on Sunday.

It is reported that China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels recently drove away the Japanese civilian aircraft that illegally entered the airspace of China's Diaoyu Dao. The Japanese Defense Ministry claimed that the CCG ship-borne helicopters violated the Japan's "airspace".

In response to that, Senior Colonel Zhang Xiaogang, spokesperson for China's Ministry of National Defense, said that the relevant remarks made by the Japanese side distort right and wrong and are irresponsible. The Diaoyu Dao and its affiliated islands are China's inherent territory.

"The Japanese civilian aircraft illegally entered the airspace of China's Diaoyu Dao, seriously infringing upon China's territorial sovereignty," said the spokesperson, adding that it is completely legitimate and legal for the CCG to take necessary measures to issue warnings to the Japanese aircraft and drive it away.

"We urge the Japanese side to strictly restrain the activities of its citizens, stop provocative acts that complicate the situation in the sea and airspace of China's Diaoyu Dao, so as to avoid bringing unstable and unsafe factors and affecting the overall development of China-Japan relations," said the spokesperson.

The spokesperson also stressed that China will continue to take effective measures to firmly safeguard China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests.