"It is another often-played move from Japan to trumpet the ’China Threat’ and stir up an ’anti-China chorus [with other countries.] Japan’s "concern" was indiscreet, as China did not land the plane on a foreign land or on Japanese territory. Besides, it is a civilian aircraft and not a military plane." Liu Jiangyong, vice director of the Modern International Relations Institute at Tsinghua University, told the Global Times.

The airport could conduct rescue and relief work for the benefit of other countries, Lv Yaodong, director of the Institute of Japanese Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times. It could also facilitate scientific research and exploration in the waters, Lü said.

Japan has been provoking South China Sea-related issues regardless of China’s concerns, though Japan is not directly involved in the issues.