Govt Investigates Past Sightings of Balloon-like Objects in Japan
18:00 JST, February 7, 2023
The government is investigating past sightings of balloon-like objects in Japan following the takedown by U.S. forces of a suspected Chinese reconnaissance balloon in the United States.
“Investigations [into the incidents] are ongoing, including possible connections with the incident in the United States,” Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihiko Isozaki said at a press conference Monday.
Balloon-like flying objects were spotted in Sendai and other locations in June 2020, and in Hachinohe, Aomori Prefecture, in September 2021, according to Isozaki and other sources.
Isozaki did not answer questions about the response of the Self-Defense Forces on those occasions, citing the classified nature of such information.
If another country’s balloon enters Japanese territorial airspace, it would trigger the same response as an intrusion by an airplane into territorial airspace under international laws.
“Intrusions into Japan’s territorial airspace constitute a violation even if it is a balloon,” Isozaki said. “If necessary, we will take measures including scrambling [ASDF jets].”
Under the Self-Defense Forces Law, if foreign aircraft intrude into territorial airspace, the defense minister can order the SDF to take necessary action, such as forcing the aircraft to land or warning it to leave from Japanese airspace.
Under the law, shoot-down responses such as those against ballistic missiles, cover only falling objects that are “predicted to cause serious damage to people’s lives or assets.”
A reconnaissance balloon does not fall within the boundaries of the law.
“A countermeasure must be considered as soon as possible,” said a Liberal Democratic Party lawmaker, expressing concerns shared by others in the party that the number of suspected reconnaissance balloons coming into Japanese territorial airspace will increase in the future.
Regarding the balloon-like objects spotted over Japan in 2020 and 2021, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning said at a press conference Monday, “I don’t know about the situations.”
"Politics" POPULAR ARTICLE
-
2024 POLLS: Ruling Camp Likely to Win Lower House Majority
-
Japan Election: Komeito Leader Keiichi Ishii Fails to Win Seat in Election; Party to Be Forced to Restructure Administration (Update 1)
-
Japan’s Special Diet Session likely to Open Nov. 11; Politicians Will Vote to Select Prime Minister
-
Japan Election: Japan’s Ruling Bloc Could Seek Broader Coalition Amid Turmoil; CDPJ Hoping to Trigger Change of Government
-
Shigeru Ishiba Retains Post as Japanese Prime Minister; Wins Runoff Against Head of Largest Opposition Party
JN ACCESS RANKING
- Streaming Services Boost Anime Popularity Overseas; Former ‘Geeky’ Interest More Beloved Among Gen Z than 3 Major U.S. Sports
- G20 Sees Soft Landing for Global Economy; Leaders Pledge to Resist Protectionism as Trump Calls for Imported Goods Flat Tariff
- 2024 POLLS: Ruling Camp Likely to Win Lower House Majority
- Chinese Social Media Still Full of Anti-Japanese Posts 1 Month After Boy’s Fatal Stabbing; Malicious Videos Gain Large Number of Views
- Chinese Rights Lawyer’s Wife Seeks Support in Japan; Sophie Luo Calls for Beijing to Free Ding Jiaxi, Xu Zhiyong