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Miami Herald
7 hours ago
- Politics
- Miami Herald
China Feuds With US Ally Over Fighter Jet Intercept
China and Japan-a treaty ally of the United States-engaged in finger-pointing after their military aircraft had close encounters while conducting operations over the Pacific Ocean. Beijing accused Tokyo of "intruding" into the training area of its naval fleet, while Japan asserted that Chinese fighter jets deliberately flew in close proximity to its patrol aircraft. Newsweek has contacted the Chinese and Japanese foreign ministries for comment via email. Japan has been monitoring the Chinese navy-the largest in the world by hull count-in the western Pacific Ocean as the Northeast Asian country forms part of the first island chain, a defensive line of islands intended to contain China's navy under a U.S. maritime strategy. China has deployed both of its aircraft carriers-CNS Liaoning and CNS Shandong-to the east of the first island chain since June 7. Japan's military reported that its patrol aircraft was intercepted by fighter jets launched from the Shandong while conducting surveillance. Regarding the aerial intercept incidents reported by Japan the previous day, Lin Jian, a spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, said at a news conference on Thursday that the two countries' defense departments "are in communication through existing channels." However, the Chinese official blamed Japan's "close-in reconnaissance" of China's routine military activities for creating what he described as "maritime and air security risks" and urged the Japanese military to stop such dangerous actions by its vessels and aircraft. Meanwhile, an unnamed spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Japan reiterated a statement from the Chinese navy, saying the dual aircraft carrier deployment in the western Pacific Ocean was part of routine training and did not "target any specific country or objective." The Chinese spokesperson accused the Japanese patrol aircraft of "seriously disrupting" the training by approaching the aircraft carrier. The official said, "China conducted professional and standardized on-site handling in accordance with laws and regulations." In Japan, General Yoshihide Yoshida, the chief of the Joint Staff, told media that the approach by Chinese fighter jets toward the Japanese patrol aircraft was not accidental, saying the two incidents lasted for 40 and 80 minutes, respectively, and occurred on two consecutive days. Tokyo expressed serious concern to Beijing and requested measures to prevent a recurrence, said Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi, the Japanese government's spokesperson, at a news conference. He added that Japan would defend its territory, airspace and waters. Lin Jian, a spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, said on Thursday: "China's activities in relevant waters and airspace are consistent with international law and international practices." An unnamed spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Japan said on Thursday: "China urges Japan to stop dangerous actions that interfere with China's training activities and to avoid causing unexpected incidents." General Yoshihide Yoshida, the chief of the Japan Joint Staff, said on Thursday: "If we relax our posture, we will encourage attempts to unilaterally change the status quo by (China's) force." Yoshimasa Hayashi, Japan's chief cabinet secretary, said on Thursday: "The unusual approach of a Chinese military aircraft could provoke an accidental collision." Japan is likely to continue its surveillance of Chinese military activities near its territory as China's navy and air force expand their reach and presence across the wider Pacific Ocean. Related Articles US Ally Keeps American Missiles at Choke Point Near ChinaUS Aircraft Carrier Holds 'Warfighting' Drills on China's DoorstepChina Closer To Solving Hyperloop Train's Biggest FlawDonald Trump Issues Next Trade Deal Update After China 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
Miami Herald
2 days ago
- General
- Miami Herald
China Releases Photos of Aircraft Carriers Beyond First Island Chain
China released photos showing its aircraft carriers conducting "training exercises" in the western Pacific beyond the first island chain, which is intended to keep its navy in check. "The training complies with relevant international law and practice, and is not targeted at specific countries or entity," a Chinese navy spokesperson said in a statement on Tuesday. The first island chain-comprising Japan, Taiwan and the Philippines-is one of three Pacific island defense lines established by the United States, utilizing its own territories as well as those of its allies and partners, with the goal of restricting China's naval activities. The Chinese navy, the largest in the world by hull count, deployed its aircraft carriers-CNS Liaoning and CNS Shandong-to the eastern side of the first island chain simultaneously for the first time over the weekend, challenging the U.S.'s naval dominance in the region. Meanwhile, the Liaoning became China's first aircraft carrier to be spotted operating in waters east of the second island chain, which stretches from Japan to New Guinea-north of Australia-via Guam, the westernmost U.S. territory that serves as a military hub. Senior Captain Wang Xuemeng, a spokesperson for the Chinese navy, confirmed in the statement that both the Liaoning and the Shandong had been deployed to the western Pacific Ocean in recent days to test their capabilities in "far-sea defense and joint operations." The spokesperson said the dual aircraft carrier deployment was a "routine arrangement included in the annual training plan," which sought to improve the ability of the Chinese navy-officially known as the People's Liberation Army Navy-to fulfill its missions. Official photos show both Chinese aircraft carriers launching J-15 fighter jets at an undisclosed location in the western Pacific Ocean during both day and night. A supply ship attached to one of the aircraft carriers was seen providing supplies to a destroyer. However, it remains unclear whether the Liaoning and the Shandong were operating in the same vicinity. They were last tracked underway on the eastern and western sides of the second island chain, respectively, according to a map published by Newsweek. Japan, a U.S. ally that tracks and monitors the Chinese navy, has made a "proper request" to China through diplomatic channels regarding the activities of the Chinese aircraft carriers, Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani said at a news conference on Tuesday. "China intends to improve the operational capability of its two aircraft carriers and its ability to conduct operations in distant seas and airspace," the minister said, adding that Japan had both the will and the ability to deter unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force. Lin Jian, a spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, said on Tuesday: "Let me reiterate that Chinese naval vessels' activities in those waters are fully consistent with international law and international practices. Our national defense policy is defensive in nature. We hope Japan will view those activities objectively and rationally." Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani said on Tuesday: "In any case, the Ministry of Defense and the Self-Defense Forces will continue to closely monitor the movements of the Chinese Navy vessels, including these two aircraft carriers, and will take all possible measures to conduct surveillance activities." China's dual aircraft carrier deployment comes as two U.S. aircraft carriers-USS Nimitz and USS George Washington-are underway in separate areas of the western Pacific Ocean. Related Articles China Makes Childbirth Change Amid Falling Birth RateVideo Shows Chinese 'Militia' Ship Near US Ally's Disputed TerritoryMap Shows China's Visa-Free 'Circle of Friends'Satellite Photo Shows US Aircraft Carrier in Pacific Rivalry With China 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
