China's two aircraft carriers were spotted conducting drills in the western Pacific Ocean, which put Japan on edge and prompted it to scramble a patrol aircraft for close reconnaissance. After being discovered by the PLA, J-15 fighters were quickly dispatched and closely followed the Japanese aircraft, forcing them to retreat. However, Japan had the audacity to cry foul first.

Japanese photo of the J-15

Recently, Japan's Ministry of Defense released information stating that a J-15 fighter jet, launched from China's Shandong aircraft carrier, "deliberately approached" a Japanese patrol aircraft conducting normal operations and "tracked" it for 40 minutes. The next day, the tracking time doubled.

Moreover, according to Japan's description, at the closest point, the J-15 was less than 50 meters away from the Japanese patrol aircraft, allowing the pilot to be seen. In response to this incident, Japan warned China, stating that such behavior is very dangerous and could easily lead to accidental collisions, hoping that similar incidents will not happen again.

However, the truth is that Japan was the one crying wolf first. As is well known, recently, China's dual aircraft carriers made their appearance in the Western Pacific for long-distance training, provoking the strongest reaction from Japan. At the time, Japan's patrol aircraft was attempting to conduct close reconnaissance on China's aircraft carrier fleet to "steal intelligence," but was caught red-handed by the PLA. The dispatch of the J-15 was also for routine deterrence.

Japanese P-3C patrol aircraft

As the Foreign Ministry responded, the PLA's actions are legal and compliant. On the contrary, Japan, by getting so close to observe the Chinese aircraft carrier, what exactly is its intention? Since Japan is aware that accidents are undesirable, it should behave honestly and not provoke China into making dangerous moves. Japan must also recognize that it has placed itself in a dangerous situation.

Japan's public relations operation in this incident can be considered a textbook case of "perception warfare." Its core strategy is to selectively narrate events, transforming its own provocative actions into the image of a victim. The Ministry of Defense released photos of the J-15 flying at close range but remained silent about Japan's patrol aircraft's prolonged reconnaissance near the Shandong aircraft carrier formation.

Chief Cabinet Secretary of Japan, Yoshinori Kano

This "editing" deliberately omits the cause of the incident, creating the false impression of China provoking without reason. It is worth noting that Japan claimed that a distance of 45 meters could easily cause a collision, but in 2014, when a Japanese reconnaissance aircraft was only 30 meters away from a Chinese Su-27 over the East China Sea, Japan argued that this was "freedom of navigation." This double standard exposes its discourse hegemony mindset.

In stark contrast to Japan's clamor in public opinion, China's navy demonstrated a silent yet powerful display of force. The Liaoning and Shandong aircraft carrier strike groups conducted their first joint exercises deep within the second island chain, showcasing the PLA's formidable combat capabilities. Japan's excessive reaction to China's aircraft carriers reflects its strategic anxiety.

Shandong aircraft carrier

Japan knows well that after World War II, Japan has not fully cleared its history of aggression, instead honoring war criminals and altering history, provoking dissatisfaction from China. In other words, Japan, feeling insecure, fears that if the PLA becomes stronger, the first target will be Japan. Secondly, the US "Indo-Pacific Strategy" requires Japan to act as a front-line suppressor of China, but recently, the US has been withdrawing troops, clearly using Japan as cannon fodder.

When traditional "island chain blockades" are dissolved by the mobility of aircraft carriers, "exclusive economic zone surveillance" is suppressed by drone swarms, and "US-Japan intelligence sharing" becomes ineffective due to quantum communication encryption, China already holds the new yardstick for defining future sea power. If Japan cannot awaken from its "victim narrative," it will eventually be swallowed by the tides of history.

Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7514975219015877135/

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