Tokyo
Mahaz News
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Japan mentioned 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 mentioned, including that these had been “strongly presumed” to be “unmanned reconnaissance” plane flown by China.
The ministry mentioned 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 mentioned in a daily press briefing.
The Japanese allegations comply with 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 giant Chinese navy surveillance program that has performed at the least two dozen missions over at the least 5 continents lately.
China, nonetheless, has claimed it was a civilian analysis vessel blown astray.
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 participating in “deliberate speculation,” Wang mentioned.
The Japanese Ministry of Defense warned in its assertion that it will “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 mentioned this was potential.
“Necessary measures may be taken when deemed necessary to protect the lives and property of citizens,” Hamada mentioned.
Source web site: www.cnn.com
