Japan confirmed on Tuesday that it scrambled aircraft after detecting a suspected Chinese drone flying near Yonaguni Island—Japan’s westernmost territory located just 110 km from Taiwan—amid escalating diplomatic tensions over the Taiwan issue.
According to Japan’s Defence Ministry, the unmanned aerial vehicle believed to be of Chinese origin passed between Yonaguni and Taiwan on Monday. The island is a key strategic location where Tokyo plans to deploy missile units, a move that has already drawn strong objections from Beijing.
The drone incident came just a day after Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke with U.S. President Donald Trump, asserting that Taiwan’s “return to China” remains a central component of the post–World War II order. Xi urged Washington to work with Beijing to “safeguard the outcomes of World War Two,” state media outlet Xinhua reported.
China Slams Japan’s New Prime Minister
Tensions further intensified as Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi launched a scathing response to remarks made by Japan’s new Prime Minister, Sanae Takaichi, on Taiwan. Wang accused Takaichi of “crossing a red line” and sending a “dangerous signal” of potential military involvement in the Taiwan issue.
“It is shocking that Japan’s current leader has publicly attempted military intervention in the Taiwan issue,” Wang said, calling for a “resolute response” to defend China’s sovereignty and post-war achievements.
Beijing Questions Japan’s Role in Global Security
Amid the diplomatic rift, China also declared that Japan is “not qualified” to become a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning argued that Japan “is incapable of shouldering the responsibility of safeguarding international peace,” citing wartime history and recent statements on Taiwan.
Japan has long sought Security Council reform, alongside countries such as India, to reflect the changing global power balance.
Rising Stakes in the Western Pacific
The latest drone incident adds to rising military signalling in the region, where Taiwan remains a flashpoint between China, the U.S., and U.S. allies like Japan. As Tokyo expands its defensive posture in its southwestern islands, Beijing has warned against any actions it perceives as interference in what it calls its internal affairs.
Neither Japan nor China has reported any direct confrontation following the drone’s passage, but the episode underscores growing competition and mistrust in the Western Pacific—where even unmanned aircraft are now triggering military responses.
