Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi, now replacing visiting Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, told reporters that Russian military aircraft had violated Japan’s air borders three times in the area around the northern island of Hokkaido.
“Three intrusions into our country’s airspace were recorded. In this regard, fighter aircraft of the Self-Defense Forces were deployed.” – he stated.
The Secretary General of the Cabinet of Ministers noted that the Russian side “will express a strong protest” in connection with the incident.