China releases videos on Japanese jets tailing Chinese plane

Anchor: China's military has defended its role during a close encounter involving military planes over the East China Sea. Beijing has released videos showing Japanese jets tailing a Chinese plane during the encounter. CRI's Tu Yun has more. Reporter: China's Ministry of National Defense has released two videos of the encounter. One of the videos show two Japanese fighter jets tailing a Chinese Tu-154 plane that was on a routine patrol in the Air Defense Identification Zone on Wednesday. The ministry says the two Japanese jets came within about 30 meters of the Chinese plane, seriously threatening the safety of Chinese personnel. The Japanese government earlier denied its aircrafts came near the Chinese jet, while trying to shift the blame for the incident on China. Geng Yansheng, spokesman for China's Ministry of National Defense, says Japanese aircraft have tailed Chinese patrol planes on at least 10 occasions. "In recent years, Japan has repeatedly sent out aircraft to track Chinese jets at close distance. The Japanese pilots also made dangerous moves threatening the safety of China's airspace. Japan has also set up a series of agendas to stir up tensions between the two countries. " Geng says Chinese pilots have acted with restraint and in line with international practice during the close encounters with the Japanese jets. Meanwhile, the Chinese Foreign Ministry says China will remain vigilant regarding Japan's intentions. The Ministry's spokesperson Hua Chunying: "Thinking about the series of actions taken by Japan, military expansion and war preparation, playing up regional threats and creating tension and confrontation, it is necessary for us to stay sober and highly vigilant regarding Japan's intentions. We want to ask Japan to honestly explain its intentions and the China reserves its right to take further action." Last month, two Japanese airplanes also entered the Air Defense Identification Zone to reportedly observe a series of Chinese and Russian naval drills taking place in the East China Sea. China established the air defense zone in November last year. Since then, China's Air Force has exercised regular control over all objects flying over the zone. For CRI, I'm Tu Yun.