Japan Denies Use of Jamming Shells against Chinese Planes

Tokyo, Dec. 11 (Jiji Press)--Japan's Defense Ministry denied Sunday Chinese allegations that Air Self-Defense Force aircraft have launched "jamming shells" against Chinese military planes that flew over high seas off southern Japan. It is not the fact that ASDF aircraft have interfered with Chinese military planes from close range or launched jamming shells against the planes in a way that endangered the safety of the planes and their crew members, the ministry said in a statement. It is very regrettable that China's Defense Ministry has unilaterally announced what are factually inaccurate to the detriment of Japan-China relations, the statement said. According to the Japanese ministry, six aircraft of the Chinese Air Force, including fighter jets, flew over high seas between the mainland of Okinawa Prefecture and the island of Miyako on Saturday. The scrambling of ASDF aircraft against the Chinese planes to prevent an incursion of Japanese airspace was conducted in strict compliance with international law and the SDF law, it said. On Saturday, the Chinese ministry said it has lodged a protest with Japan over the alleged interference, which "endangered the safety of Chinese aircraft and crew" during their routine training. END