Chinese fighter flies within 45m of Japan patrol plane over Pacific, Tokyo says
TOKYO -- Chinese fighter jets flew abnormally close to a Japanese patrol plane monitoring a Chinese aircraft carrier in the Pacific Ocean twice within the past few days, Japan's Defense Ministry said Wednesday.
A Maritime Self-Defense Force P-3C plane was followed by a Chinese J-15 from the aircraft carrier Shandong for around 40 minutes on Saturday and 80 minutes on Sunday, according to the ministry. The jet, believed to have been armed with missiles, flew within 45 meters of the patrol plane at the same altitude, a short enough distance to risk a collision.
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Japan Times
a day ago
- Japan Times
Chinese fighter jets in close encounters with MSDF patrol plane over Pacific
Chinese fighter jets risked collisions with a Maritime Self-Defense Force P-3C surveillance plane over the high seas in the Pacific Ocean in two close calls over the weekend that the Defense Ministry in Tokyo has characterized as 'abnormal approaches.' The ministry said late Wednesday that a MSDF P-3C patrol plane monitoring China's Shandong aircraft carrier in the Pacific was followed by a Chinese J-15 that took off from the carrier for about 40 minutes Saturday and 80 minutes Sunday. On Saturday, a J-15 fighter, which images showed was armed with missiles, flew to within 45 meters parallel of the surveillance plane — a short enough distance to risk a collision. The following day, a J-15 crossed approximately 900 meters in front of the P-3C's flight path, a distance covered in a matter of seconds. 'These kinds of unusual approaches by Chinese military aircraft pose a risk of accidental collisions,' the ministry said. Although there was no damage to the Japanese plane or injuries among its crew, officials said it had 'raised serious concerns' with the Chinese side, urging them to prevent such incidents from recurring. A Chinese J-15 fighter jet conducts what Japan's Defense Ministry said was an "abnormal approach" to a Maritime Self-Defense Force P-3C surveillance plane over the high seas in the Pacific Ocean on Sunday. | DEFENSE MINISTRY / VIA JIJI This was believed to be the third time since 2014 that Chinese aircraft have made such close approaches to Self-Defense Forces planes. All previous incidents occurred over the East China Sea. The public disclosure of the latest incidents was delayed for several days in order to interview the P-3C's crew and analyze the flight data, media reports citing ministry officials said. The incidents came as China's two operating aircraft carriers — the Shandong and Liaoning — were spotted conducting simultaneous operations in the Pacific for the first time, the ministry announced earlier in the week. Beijing confirmed late Tuesday that the two carriers had conducted the training "to test the forces' capabilities in far seas defense and joint operations," Chinese Navy spokesperson Senior Capt. Wang Xuemeng said, calling the exercises "routine training" that did not target any specific country. Beijing has ramped up military exercises and training in recent months, highlighting its growing prowess ever farther from its shores. The vast waters of the western Pacific Ocean have long been seen as one weak point in Japan's defense architecture, and the government, as part of its 2022 Defense Buildup Program, is working to deploy mobile early warning and control radars to the area to strengthen air defense capabilities there.
Nikkei Asia
a day ago
- Nikkei Asia
Chinese fighter flies within 45m of Japan patrol plane over Pacific, Tokyo says
TOKYO -- Chinese fighter jets flew abnormally close to a Japanese patrol plane monitoring a Chinese aircraft carrier in the Pacific Ocean twice within the past few days, Japan's Defense Ministry said Wednesday. A Maritime Self-Defense Force P-3C plane was followed by a Chinese J-15 from the aircraft carrier Shandong for around 40 minutes on Saturday and 80 minutes on Sunday, according to the ministry. The jet, believed to have been armed with missiles, flew within 45 meters of the patrol plane at the same altitude, a short enough distance to risk a collision.
Kyodo News
2 days ago
- Kyodo News
Japan PM to urge G7 to work to tackle North Korea's cryptocurrency theft
KYODO NEWS - 25 minutes ago - 18:03 | All, Japan, World Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba is set to call on his Group of Seven counterparts to work together to tackle North Korea's cryptocurrency thefts at their summit in Canada later this month, government sources said Wednesday. Ishiba's decision comes amid allegations that North Korea is using illicitly obtained virtual assets to fund its development of weapons of mass destruction, prompting demands for stronger international cooperation to cut off its financial lifelines. With Pyongyang bolstering its relations with Moscow in the military field, Japan is also eager to deepen collaboration with European nations supporting Ukraine, which has been under invasion by Russia since February 2022, the sources said. The G7 countries, meanwhile, plan to establish a task force to review tax exemptions on cross-border e-commerce involving small parcels, the sources said, as retailers flood the markets of member nations with cheap goods. The three-day summit is scheduled to kick off from Sunday. Canada, this year's rotating president, has sounded out Japan about participating in the task force, the sources added. The move reflects growing concern among G7 members about the strain that the volume of parcels containing low-value goods puts on customs processing. The countries also seek to provide some level of protection to domestic businesses subject to sales and consumption taxes, from which products sold by overseas retailers, notably those in China, are exempt. Under the "de minimis" rule, Japan currently waives trade and consumption taxes on imported items priced 10,000 yen ($69) or less, except for rice, sugar and some other items. In 2024, approximately 170 million boxes valued under the threshold were imported, accounting for about 90 percent of the total number approved by customs, according to Japan's Finance Ministry. Chinese e-commerce giants like Shein and Temu have taken advantage of the tax exemption to grow their presence in Japan and other large markets. The G7 members believe that the surge in these shipments is straining customs operations and weakening border controls against counterfeit products and illicit drugs. In May, the United States revoked its tax exemption for small parcels from China, citing concerns about the inflow of illegal drugs, particularly fentanyl. Japan is also considering a review of the tax exemption system for such shipments, the sources added. Related coverage: North Korean hacker group identified in theft of DMM Bitcoin assets Japan's DMM Bitcoin to end business after losing 48 bil. yen in leak
