Press Releases
Mr. Akitaka Saiki, Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, lodges protest against Mr. Cheng Yonghua, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Japan
May 26, 2014
On May 26, at approximately 5:30 p.m., Mr. Akitaka Saiki, Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, summoned Mr. Cheng Yonghua, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) to Japan, to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, under the instruction of Mr. Fumio Kishida, Minister for Foreign Affairs. Vice-Minister Saiki once again made a strong protest regarding the May 24 incident in which a Chinese military jet fighter (Su-27) flew close to aircrafts of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force and the Air Self-Defense Force and strongly demanded the prevention of reoccurrences.
Vice-Minister Saiki said that aircrafts of the Self-Defense Force were involved in monitoring activities which are usually carried out and that such activities are rightful actions which present no problems in terms of international law and international customary law, and that Japan did not conduct any dangerous acts or interfere with exercises as noted by China. Vice-Minister Saiki stated that Japan cannot at all accept China’s assertion.
Vice-Minister Saiki said that it was important that the defense officials of Japan and China discuss assuring security at sea and in airspace in order to avoid and prevent unexpected incidents between the two countries, and that both countries should initiate operation of the maritime communication mechanism between Japan and China defense authorities as early as possible.
In response to this, Ambassador Cheng explained China’s position, including its unique claim that Japan’s explanation is contrary to the truth. Ambassador Cheng said China also considers it important that the two countries communicate with each other in order to prevent unexpected incidents. He said that he would report said remarks made by Vice-Minister Saiki to the Government of China.
(The foregoing is a provisional translation. The date indicated above denotes the date of issue of the original press release in Japanese.)
Vice-Minister Saiki said that aircrafts of the Self-Defense Force were involved in monitoring activities which are usually carried out and that such activities are rightful actions which present no problems in terms of international law and international customary law, and that Japan did not conduct any dangerous acts or interfere with exercises as noted by China. Vice-Minister Saiki stated that Japan cannot at all accept China’s assertion.
Vice-Minister Saiki said that it was important that the defense officials of Japan and China discuss assuring security at sea and in airspace in order to avoid and prevent unexpected incidents between the two countries, and that both countries should initiate operation of the maritime communication mechanism between Japan and China defense authorities as early as possible.
In response to this, Ambassador Cheng explained China’s position, including its unique claim that Japan’s explanation is contrary to the truth. Ambassador Cheng said China also considers it important that the two countries communicate with each other in order to prevent unexpected incidents. He said that he would report said remarks made by Vice-Minister Saiki to the Government of China.
(The foregoing is a provisional translation. The date indicated above denotes the date of issue of the original press release in Japanese.)