Chinese fighter jets take off from, land on aircraft carrier off Senkaku Islands
Japan's Defense Ministry announced on Sunday that the Chinese Navy's aircraft carrier Liaoning sailed in the East China Sea off the coast of the Senkaku Islands in Okinawa Prefecture. The ministry says fighter jets took off from the carrier and landed on it.
The ministry said Liaoning and four other ships were confirmed to be sailing in the ocean about 200 kilometers north of Kubashima Island at around 7 a.m. on Sunday.
It said fighter jets and helicopters were confirmed taking off and landing on the Liaoning.
The Japan Air Self-Defense Force scrambled fighter jets. There was no violation of Japan's airspace.
This is the first time the defense ministry has announced takeoffs and landings of fighter jets using a Chinese aircraft carrier sailing in the East China Sea.
The ministry said Japan is going through diplomatic channels to express interest in the recent stepped-up activities of the Chinese military.
On May 3, a China Coast Guard helicopter violated Japan's territorial airspace around the Senkaku Islands, and the ministry continues surveillance in the area.
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