REUTERS
June 12, 2025 at 11:55 JST
A P-3C patrol aircraft (Asahi Shimbun file photo)
Chinese fighter jets flew unusually close to Japanese military patrol planes over the weekend as two Chinese aircraft carriers operated in the Pacific Ocean for the first time, Japan’s defence ministry said late on Wednesday.
On Saturday, a Chinese J-15 jet from the aircraft carrier Shandong chased a Japanese P-3C patrol aircraft for about 40 minutes, the ministry said.
On Sunday, a J-15 chased a P-3C for 80 minutes, crossing in front of the Japanese aircraft at a distance of only 900 meters (2,950 feet), it said.
At one point on both days, a Chinese J-15 flew as close as 45 meters to a Japanese aircraft, the ministry said.
The P-3C aircraft, belonging to Japan’s Maritime Self-Defense Force based in the island of Okinawa, were conducting surveillance over international waters in the Pacific, the ministry said.
“Such abnormal approaches by Chinese military aircraft could potentially cause accidental collisions, and we have expressed serious concern and strongly requested prevention of recurrence,” the ministry said, attaching close-up images of the J-15 jet it took on Sunday.
Earlier this week, Tokyo said the Shandong and another Chinese carrier the Liaoning were conducting simultaneous operations in the Pacific for the first time, describing it as a move signifying Beijing’s intention to further widen its capabilities beyond its borders.
Beijing on Tuesday said the operations were a “routine training” exercise that did not target specific countries.
In 2014, Tokyo said it spotted Chinese military aircraft flying as close as 30 meters to its military aircraft over the East China Sea and protested to Beijing.
Why 2 Chinese aircraft carriers are operating in the Pacific together for the first time
June 12, 2025
Taiwan monitors surge in Chinese military activity as Beijing’s carrier exercises in Pacific
July 11, 2024
Philippine defense chief warns allies will fight if China restricts flights over South China Sea
March 6, 2025
Chinese carrier passes close to Philippines on way to Pacific drills, Taiwan says
July 10, 2024
Australia says China threatened plane over South China Sea
June 5, 2022
Japan says it scrambled jets to monitor Chinese aircraft carrier operations
January 3, 2023
A peek through the music industry’s curtain at the producers who harnessed social media to help their idols go global.
A series based on diplomatic documents declassified by Japan’s Foreign Ministry
Here is a collection of first-hand accounts by “hibakusha” atomic bomb survivors.
Cooking experts, chefs and others involved in the field of food introduce their special recipes intertwined with their paths in life.
A series about Japanese-Americans and their memories of World War II
