Chinese fighter jets twice risked collisions with Air Self-Defense Force surveillance aircraft over the East China Sea on Wednesday and Thursday, according to the Defense Ministry in Tokyo, in the latest close encounters between the two militaries.

The Defense Ministry, which announced the incidents late Thursday, said both involved Chinese JH-7 fighter-bombers making ※unusual approaches§ that took the jets within 30 meters of the ASDF YS-11EB electronic intelligence aircraft over international waters.

During the first maneuver on Wednesday morning, the Chinese jet flew within 30 meters to the side of the ASDF aircraft 〞 a short enough distance to risk a collision. The following morning saw the Chinese jet perform a similar maneuver, this time flying within 30 meters vertically from the Japanese aircraft.

※Such unusual approaches by Chinese military aircraft pose a potential risk of accidental collision and have raised serious concerns,§ the Defense Ministry said. ※We have strongly urged the prevention of such incidents from recurring.§

This week＊s close encounters came as Japan＊s top diplomat met with his Chinese counterpart on the sidelines of a regional summit in Malaysia to voice unease over a recent spate of military moves by Beijing 〞 including two similar encounters last month.

In early June, Chinese J-15 fighter jets from the country＊s Shandong aircraft carrier risked collisions with Maritime Self-Defense Force P-3C surveillance aircraft over the Pacific Ocean after flying within 45 meters of the Japanese plane on June 7 and flew just 900 meters in front of its flight path 〞 a distance that can be covered in a matter of seconds by the plane 〞 the following day.

The latest encounters echoed two that occurred in 2014, when Chinese fighter jets also came within 30 meters of Japanese patrol planes over the same waters in the East China Sea, near the disputed Senkaku Islands, which are controlled by Japan and claimed by China.

Concerns have been growing in Tokyo over China＊s moves in the waters and airspace near the Senkakus after a Chinese government helicopter violated Japanese airspace around the uninhabited islets in May and as Beijing continues to send government ships to the area on a daily basis.

Beijing has ramped up military exercises and training in the waters and airspace near Japan in recent months, highlighting its growing prowess ever farther from its shores.

China＊s two operating carriers were spotted conducting simultaneous operations in the Pacific for the first time last month, in what Japanese defense officials have said is a significant expansion of Chinese naval activities.