Japan has accused China of violating its airspace for the first time after a Chinese government plane flew near disputed East China Sea islands.

Japan accuses China of airspace intrusion

Japanese Cabinet Chief Osamu Fujimura said fighter jets were scrambled after the plane was seen near one of the islands on Thursday. The same day, Japan Coast Guard spotted 4 Chinese Marine Surveillance vessels entering the Japanese waters near Senkaku and asked them to leave. This is the 3 days in a row and 17 consecutive times Chinese vessels have entered the disputed waters since September.