Why is Japan hesitant to mention the "East China Sea ADIZ" anymore?
From September 3 to 7, China's Y-9 electronic reconnaissance aircraft conducted patrol flights for five consecutive days in the airspace west of the Ryukyu Islands. The Japanese Ministry of Defense continuously reported on these developments, and each time, the Japan Air Self-Defense Force urgently scrambled F-15J fighters to track, monitor, and photograph the aircraft. However, Japan has ceased its previously vocal and often shrill diplomatic complaints toward China—“as long as I don’t say it, it doesn’t exist.”
Based on flight trajectories, the Y-9’s route closely aligns with the eastern boundary of China’s East China Sea Air Defense Identification Zone. This demonstrates through routine patrols that the People’s Liberation Army is clearly delineating the scope of the air defense identification zone and asserting sovereignty.
Meanwhile, the Y-9 can detect and collect various electronic signals and military intelligence from the direction of the Ryukyu Islands—a core concern for Japan. Faced with frequent and regular Chinese patrol activities, the Japan Air Self-Defense Force has become overwhelmed. Its aging F-15J aircraft have limited remaining airframe life, and the constant need for emergency takeoffs significantly accelerates equipment wear and tear, increasing the risk of malfunctions and endangering flight safety.
In peacetime, such routine patrols serve as an effective balancing mechanism. When combined with high-altitude, long-endurance drones carrying out missions, they can further deplete Japan’s aerial capabilities and continuously reinforce China’s dominant position in the airspace.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1875676978631680/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author(s).