China's high-altitude reconnaissance balloon invaded U.S. airspace a few days ago and was shot down by warplanes. Japanese Defense Minister Yasuichi Hamada said at a regular press conference today that in order to protect people's lives and property, necessary (shooting down) measures will be taken if necessary.

(AFP file photo)

[Central News Agency] China's high-altitude reconnaissance balloon invaded the U.S. airspace and was shot down by warplanes. Japanese Defense Minister Yasuichi Hamada said at a regular press conference today that in order to protect people's lives and property, necessary measures will be taken if necessary (shooting down) measure.

Hamada pointed out at a regular press conference after the cabinet meeting that even if it is a balloon, if it invades Japanese airspace without permission, it is a violation of airspace.

The countermeasure is to use weapons if necessary in accordance with the Self-Defense Forces Act.

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The implication is that if a Chinese high-altitude balloon invades the U.S. airspace in Japan, according to the current law, the Japanese Self-Defense Forces can shoot it down, depending on the circumstances.

Japanese Foreign Minister Lin Fang said at a regular press conference that no matter which country it is, acts that violate the sovereignty of other countries must not be tolerated.

Regarding the U.S. government's shooting down of a Chinese high-altitude balloon, Lin Fangzheng said: "Fully understands the U.S. position." Regarding China, he said: "It is very important for China to shoulder the responsibility of making a full explanation."

Yomiuri Shimbun reported that Yoshihiro Murai, governor of Miyagi Prefecture in Northeast Japan, said at a regular press conference today that in June 2020, some people witnessed a Chinese high-altitude balloon over Miyagi Prefecture.

Murai said: "At the time I couldn't understand what kind of flying object it was, and I still think so now." As for the alleged flying object being similar to the Chinese balloon that invaded U.S. airspace this time, he said: "If it is similar, I really think it is Full image."

The Miyagi prefectural government made great efforts to collect relevant information about the flying object, but concluded that it "could not be identified".

Murai said that the Miyagi prefectural government has limited ability to deal with this matter, and perhaps it is necessary for the government to conduct further investigations in the future.

The Japan Broadcasting Association (NHK) reported that three years ago, people witnessed a Chinese balloon similar to the invasion of the US airspace over Miyagi Prefecture, and the Japanese government is conducting analysis and investigation.

Takahashi Sugio, director (director) of the Defense Policy Research Office of the Defense Research Institute of the Ministry of Defense of Japan, said that the object similar to solar cells suspended from the balloon is very similar, so it can be said that the object three years ago is likely to come from China.

He said that it is speculated that this is likely to be a balloon used by China to collect intelligence, but no evidence has been found at this stage.

Takahashi said that originally the balloon would float with the wind, but it was probably intentional to float around Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture for such a long time, but it is not known what the intention of the person who launched the balloon was.

On the 4th, the U.S. fighter jets fired missiles to shoot down a Chinese balloon flying over the continental United States.

The United States contends that the balloon was launched for reconnaissance purposes.

However, the Chinese side stated that this is a private spacecraft for studying weather and other matters.

NHK reported that Japan’s Ministry of Defense pointed out that balloons are regarded as aircraft in international law, and balloons intruding into the airspace of other countries are violations of international law and are violations of airspace.

In the past, military or civilian aircraft entered the airspace of other countries, which not only caused tension in the country concerned, but also increased the tension in the international community as a whole.

According to Japanese law, generally speaking, a warning will be given to an aircraft violating the airspace, or the aircraft will be forced to land at the nearest airport.

For military aircraft that do not comply with international laws or orders, the government will take necessary measures in accordance with the law.

China's high-altitude reconnaissance balloon invaded U.S. airspace a few days ago and was shot down by a warplane. Japanese Defense Minister Yasuichi Hamada said that in order to protect people's lives and property, necessary (shooting down) measures will be taken if necessary.

(Bloomberg)