TOKYO– Japanese officials said Wednesday they are closely monitoring whether China keeps its promise to prevent further violations of Japanese airspace after explaining that an incursion by a Chinese military plane nearly three months ago was unintentional and caused by turbulence.

Tokyo protested and demanded an explanation from Beijing after a Chinese Y-9 reconnaissance plane briefly entered Japanese airspace off the southern main island of Kyushu on August 26, this which prompted the Japanese military to dispatch fighter planes and warn the plane.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said China recognized the airspace violation and assured Japan it would make efforts to prevent a repeat.

“We take note of China’s explanations and will closely monitor Chinese military activity from now on,” Hayashi said.

China said the airspace violation occurred when the plane’s pilot took emergency measures in response to turbulence in the area and was unintentional, the official said. Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Japanese officials did not release further details, including when China provided an explanation, citing diplomatic exchange protocol.

Although planes may encounter turbulence, such a large deviation from the flight route is unthinkable, Japanese officials said.

NHK public television reported that Japanese defense officials said they still found the airspace violation unacceptable because it was a serious violation of territorial sovereignty.

Japanese officials are concerned about China’s growing military activity in the waters and airspace of southwest Japan. This has led Tokyo to significantly strengthen its defenses in the area, which includes isolated islands considered key to Japan’s defense strategy.

Japan is also concerned about joint military activities between China and Russia.

A Chinese survey ship violated Japanese territorial waters off a southern island in August. In September, the Chinese aircraft carrier Liaoning and two destroyers sailed between Japan’s westernmost island, Yonaguni – just east of Taiwan – and nearby Iriomote, entering Japan’s “contiguous zone.” , an area just outside a country’s territorial waters in which it can still operate. a certain control over maritime traffic.