Japan scrambles fighters after Chinese patrol plane

The JASDF launched F-15J fighters, and an E-2C Hawkeye after a Chinese patrol plane was sighted in airspace over islands both countries claim.

The Senkaku Islands, also known as Diaoyu, Tiaoyutai, or Piannacle Islands, are islands controlled by Japan, in the East China Sea, west of Okinawa. They were annexed by Japan in 1895, with a bonito processing plant built on them in 1900. The plant failed in 1940, and they have been deserted since.

After the surrender of Japan, the US controlled the islands, until 1972, when they were returned to Japan. They were privately owned and rented by Japan from the family that owned them. In September of 2012 Japan bought the islands back from the Kurihara family and nationalized them.

The problem begins in 1969. The United Nations Economic Commission for Asia and the Far East identified significant oil and gas reserves in the area. When the islands reverted to Japanese control in 1972, China and Taiwan both declared that the islands belong to them.

Fast forward to 2012. China has repeatedly launch patrols of the region, and on Thursday, four marine surveillance ships entered the area. A patrol plane, B-3837 arrived over the islands at the same time. The patrol ships ordered Japanese ships in the area to leave immediately, as they were there illegally.

A Japanese Coast Guard patrol spotted B-3837 flying over the islands, and reported it. The JASDF immediately scrambled 8 F-15Js, and an E-2C Hawkeye AWACS plane, to find the Chinese aircraft, and escort it from the area. By the time they arrived in the region, B-3837 had left the area.

B-3837 is a Harbin Y-12 type twin engine patrol plane, that would present no threat to other aircraft or ships. It's a small transport aircraft that carries no weapons unless the crew is carrying small arms.

B-3837:



In my opinion, 8 F-15s was a bit excessive, but they may have been sending a message that the islands belong to Japan and no one else. No one in the region even seemed interested in them until they found oil and gas under them. Then, like the Spratly Islands, everyone wanted them.

reply to post by Zaphod58


I believe Slayer posted a thread a couple weeks ago stating to watch this part of the region and to stop worrying about the things going on in the Middle East... looks like he was right because it seems like this situation has reached a boiling point where both sides are close to acting.

Scary situation for sure if this develops any more...

reply to post by jhn7537


What makes it bad is that it's not just these islands. There are also the Spratly Islands, which are claimed by something like 10 different countries, including ones that aren't anywhere near them. There has been shooting going on over those islands through the years, so the potential for a major incident in the region is high.

Originally posted by Zaphod58
In my opinion, 8 F-15s was a bit excessive, but they may have been sending a message that the islands belong to Japan and no one else. No one in the region even seemed interested in them until they found oil and gas under them. Then, like the Spratley Islands, everyone wanted them.

The Japanese can't back down because if they do, the Chinese will just keep pushing.

The Chinese hate the Japanese.

Expect trouble.

reply to post by jhn7537


I agree. I think that if any real war ever erupted it would be with an Asian country. There are just too many factors we cannot ignore, socially and genetically and the view /impact of them on both sides.

China IMO will be the one to kick things off with Japan, or vice versa, and drag the rest of the world into a WW.

reply to post by Zaphod58


I agree. China is trying to change the international rules for what they can and can't claim as theirs. I believe you can go out 200 nautical miles from your coast (I may be wrong with that)... But regardless, China sees Japan as being weak (well weaker than usual) and they're trying to make their move now while the US has its hands full dealing with the Middle East conflicts and our own economy... They smell blood...

So China is declaring sections of water to be theirs, islands, and soon enough all its neighbors...

reply to post by ollncasino


Oh, I agree. The instant Japan backs down, China will just add more, and other nations will push more. The Japanese are backed into a corner on this one, and I have a bad feeling something is going to happen. All three countries involved need the resources (only two can actually do anything militarily about it), and all three are going to keep pushing until something happens.

I'm going with Japan on this , they not only annexed the islands in 1895 , but operated a fish processing plant there from 1900 to 1940 when it went under . On top of that I read in the Chinese newspaper Xinhua about 6 months ago that China had just issued a revised list of of the names of the islands , which I take it to mean they didn't even have the islands individually named until then .