Japanese fighter jets intercepted Russian aircraft by firing warning flares, according to Tokyo officials, raising concerns of global conflict.
In a press briefing, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hayashi reported that Russian planes violated Japanese airspace near Rebun Island in Hokkaido three times between 1pm and 3pm. He called the incident “deeply regrettable” and said Japan had issued a strong protest. Japanese jets responded with warning flares.
Tensions between Russia and Japan have worsened since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Economic sanctions have cut trade, with Japanese car exports to Russia down 45% and coal imports from Russia falling by 67%, according to Responsible Statecraft.
In February 2024, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida reaffirmed Japan’s commitment to resolving the dispute over the Northern Territories, a group of islands claimed by both countries.
Russian ex-President Dmitry Medvedev dismissed Japan’s concerns on X, saying: “We don’t care about Japan’s feelings regarding the so-called ‘Northern Territories.’ They belong to Russia.”
This isn’t the first time Russian military planes have violated another nation’s airspace. In June, Swedish jets intercepted a Russian plane near Gotland. Sweden’s foreign minister condemned the breach as “unacceptable.” In September, a Russian drone entered Romanian airspace, believed to be part of an attack on Ukraine, with a similar drone crashing in Latvia just hours earlier.
Latvian Defense Minister Andris Spruds suggested the drone likely came from Belarus, one of Russia’s few allies.
