Japan, Tokyo: The recent incursion of a Chinese surveillance aircraft into Japanese airspace serves as a stark reminder of the increasingly assertive posture of China's leadership, according to U.S. Representative John Moolenaar, who heads the House Select Committee on China.
On Monday, a Y-9 reconnaissance plane from China flew near Kyushu Island, marking the first time a Chinese military aircraft had entered Japan's airspace, as confirmed by Tokyo. The Japanese government swiftly condemned the incident, labeling it "completely unacceptable" in its communication with Beijing.
In response, China's foreign ministry stated on Tuesday that it was still gathering details about the situation.
"We've observed a significant shift in China's behavior over recent years, and the critical issue now is determining the most effective means of deterring future acts of aggression and other harmful activities," Moolenaar, a Republican, remarked during an interview in Tokyo on Wednesday.
Moolenaar, accompanied by several members of a bipartisan committee focused on issues ranging from China's export of fentanyl precursor chemicals to its influence on American businesses, visited Japan as the Biden administration seeks to tighten controls on the export of semiconductor manufacturing equipment.
Japan has collaborated with the U.S. in imposing restrictions on the export of advanced technology. However, unlike Washington, Japan has refrained from implementing trade measures that specifically target China, its largest trading partner.
Last month, sources informed Reuters that a forthcoming U.S. regulation designed to extend its authority to restrict semiconductor manufacturing equipment exports to China from certain foreign chipmakers would not apply to Japan, the Netherlands, or South Korea.
During his visit to Japan, Moolenaar met with Trade and Industry Minister Ken Saito, who oversees the country's technology exports. Moolenaar is also scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and other high-ranking Japanese officials.
"The key question is how to effectively deter future Chinese aggression and malign activities without contributing to a military buildup that could be turned against us," Moolenaar emphasized.
