Japan hits out at China over close-call with fighter jets
Japan has condemned China 's 'close approaches' after Chinese J-15 fighters flew dangerously near to a Japanese P-3C patrol plane monitoring the Shandong aircraft carrier over the Pacific.
The Japanese defence ministry stated that the J-15 fighters tailed the surveillance aircraft for 40 and 80 minutes, respectively, with one instance of a jet crossing 900 metres in front of the P-3C's flight path.
Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said Japan raised serious concerns with China, urging them to prevent such incidents.
Japan delayed disclosing the encounters to interview the P-3C's crew and assess flight data, while also reporting that two Chinese aircraft carriers, Liaoning and Shandong, were conducting simultaneous operations in the Pacific.
China confirmed its carriers were training to test capabilities in far seas defence and joint operations, stating the exercises were routine and not targeting any specific country.
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