In response to the U.S. shooting down of the Chinese spy balloon, Japanese Defense Minister Yasuichi Hamada stated that once a foreign balloon invades Japanese airspace, the Self-Defense Forces can shoot it down according to law.

(Bloomberg file photo)

Spy balloons escalate national security concerns

[Special Commissioner Lin Cuiyi in Japan/Report from Tokyo 7th] The shooting down of a Chinese spy balloon in the airspace of the United States has also been fermented in Japan recently.

Japanese Defense Minister Yasuichi Hamada stated at a regular press conference on the 7th that once a foreign balloon invades Japanese airspace, the Self-Defense Forces can shoot it down according to law.

Necessary measures may be taken as if aircraft intruded into the Self-Defense Forces

Hamada said that self-defense force aircraft can use weapons when performing airspace violation missions, which is a necessary measure to protect the lives and properties of citizens.

Article 84 of the Japanese Self-Defense Forces Act stipulates that if a foreign aircraft violates Japanese airspace, the Self-Defense Force will take necessary measures to land or drive it away.

Balloons and drones are also included, according to the Ministry of Defense.

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When Hamada was asked about this matter in Congress on the 6th, he only responded by "not confirming and announcing the incident of the balloon violating the airspace" and did not give a direct answer. However, due to the intensification of the balloon incident, his attitude hardened on the 7th, stating that it can be shot down if necessary .

In mid-June 2020, a mysterious white balloon appeared over Sendai City and Fukushima Prefecture. Below the balloon was a cross-shaped object suspected of being a solar panel, as well as propeller propellers.

In September of the following year, a similar white balloon appeared over the city of Hachinohe in Aomori Prefecture.

At that time, the Japanese media reported extensively. Although some people suspected that it was a Chinese spy balloon, it did not become a national security issue at that time.

The Matsushima Base of the Air Self-Defense Force Aerobatic Demonstration Team is located in Higashi Matsushima City, Miyagi Prefecture near Sendai City, and Hachinohe City, Aomori Prefecture has its own Misawa Base.

After the United States shot down a Chinese spy balloon and escalated it to a national security issue, Japan was also forced to review and deal with the issue.

Masamune Wada, a senator from Miyagi Prefecture, said in a parliamentary inquiry that the government should find out what the white balloon was more than two years ago, and that the spy balloon should not be allowed to collect information on the Self-Defense Forces and US military bases. The balloon may even be loaded with biological and chemical weapons.