Japan raises concerns with China over aggressive warplane maneuvers in the Pacific region.
Japan has formally raised concerns with Beijing following encounters with Chinese fighter jets near its maritime patrol planes over the Pacific Ocean. This situation has drawn attention, particularly as it marks the simultaneous deployment of two Chinese aircraft carriers, a scenario observed over the weekend for the first time.
According to Japan’s Kyodo News, a Chinese J-15 warplane operating from the Shandong aircraft carrier reportedly conducted several maneuvers that brought it alarmingly close to a Japanese P-3C maritime surveillance aircraft. The incident, which occurred over two days, involved the Chinese military jet flying as close as 45 meters (approximately 147 feet) to the Japanese plane, leading to heightened tensions.
Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary, Yoshimasa Hayashi, conveyed Japan’s serious concerns to the Chinese government, emphasizing the importance of preventing similar occurrences in the future. The Japanese Ministry of Defense indicated that the P-3C aircraft were engaged in surveillance activities over international waters when they were approached by the Chinese jets. The weekend encounters included a prolonged chase, with a J-15 reportedly shadowing a Japanese P-3C for around 40 minutes on Saturday and pursuing it for 80 minutes on Sunday, at one point coming within 900 meters (approximately 2,952 feet).
The Japanese defense officials underscored that such close encounters pose risks of accidental collisions in the air. Fortunately, no damage or injuries were reported during these incidents. In light of these developments, Hayashi assured that Japan would maintain open channels of communication with China while continuing to monitor airspace around its territories.
Historically, this is not the first time instances of close encounters between Japanese and Chinese military forces have been documented—similar events occurred more than a decade ago, in the middle of 2014, when Chinese Su-27 jets approached within 30 meters of Japanese military aircraft.
Moreover, it was reported that the Shandong aircraft carrier conducted takeoff and landing exercises within Japan’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) near Okinotori Island, further indicating the growing military presence in the region. The Liaoning carrier was also noted to have engaged in similar activities within the EEZ over the weekend, raising further interest in regional security dynamics.
In a broader context, these incidents spotlight the complexities of military interactions between nations in the Asia-Pacific region, drawing attention to the need for diplomatic engagement to mitigate potential conflicts.
#PoliticsNews #WorldNews
