According to a report from Beijing Daily, on December 9, Guo Jiakun, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, held a regular press conference.
A journalist from Japan's Asahi Shimbun asked about the Japanese government's hype regarding the so-called "radar illumination" by Chinese naval carrier-based aircraft against Japan's Self-Defense Force fighter jets.
"China has already made its firm position clear on this issue, and the facts are very clear," Guo Jiakun said.
Guo Jiakun pointed out that China's training activities in the relevant maritime and air space comply with international law and customary practices, and the relevant operations are professional and beyond reproach. It is a common practice for carrier-based aircraft to activate search radar during flight training, which is also a normal operation to ensure flight safety.
"I would like to suggest that the reporter ask the Japanese side why the Japanese Self-Defense Force fighter jets were present in the relevant area and created this dangerous incident that should not have happened? Is it deliberately disturbing China's normal training activities and creating tension?" Guo Jiakun said.
Recently, the Japanese Ministry of Defense released a statement saying that the carrier-based aircraft of China's Liaoning aircraft carrier group conducted radar illumination against Japan's Air Self-Defense Force aircraft in the international waters east of Okinawa Island, and the Japanese side lodged a strong protest with China.
In response, Zhang Xiaogang, spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of National Defense, stated on the 7th that the training activities of the Liaoning aircraft carrier group in the sea area east of the Miyako Strait complied with international law and practice. However, the Japanese side maliciously monitored and disturbed China's actions, repeatedly sending aircraft into the training area designated and announced by China, and then falsely accused China's normal operations, which is simply a case of 'the thief accusing the victim' and 'turning the blame around'. We strongly disapprove and oppose the Japanese side's provocation and misleading public opinion.
"In recent times, Japan has been aggressively escalating incidents in the field of military security. What exactly is the intention? Everyone knows. If Japan continues down the path of militarism, it will fall into an abyss from which there is no return. We urge the Japanese side to truly understand the situation, reflect and correct mistakes, abandon all improper intentions, and not go further away from the position of the Chinese people and the international community," Zhang Xiaogang said.
Additionally, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated on the 7th that the frequent close reconnaissance and interference by Japanese fighter jets against China's normal military activities pose the greatest risk to maritime and aerial security. China does not accept the Japanese side's so-called consultation and has rejected it on the spot, and has submitted counter-consultations in Beijing and Tokyo respectively.
The spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that at the current stage, the Japanese side's hype over the so-called "radar illumination" issue distorts the facts, shifts the blame, escalates tensions, misleads the international community, and is clearly with ulterior motives. China firmly opposes this. We strongly urge the Japanese side to immediately stop the dangerous behavior of disturbing China's normal training activities and to stop all irresponsible false hype and political manipulation.
This article is an exclusive piece by the Observer, and without permission, it cannot be reprinted.
Original: toutiao.com/article/7581764545056702982/
Statement: This article represents the personal views of the author.