【Wen/Observer Net Qi Qian】

The Liaoning aircraft carrier group passed through the Miyako Strait, but Japan frequently "added drama," claiming that Chinese aircraft used radar to illuminate Japanese aircraft in international waters. In response to Japan's distorted and defamatory behavior, the Chinese Navy, Ministry of National Defense, Foreign Ministry, and Chinese embassy in Japan have issued four consecutive rebuttals.

According to reports from Japan's NHK and Kyodo News, on December 7, the Japanese Ministry of Defense confirmed for the first time that on December 6, the J-15 fighter jet taking off from the Liaoning aircraft carrier illuminated the F-15 fighter jet of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force twice in the international waters east of Okinawa's main island.

Japanese media reported that the radar of the aircraft is used for searching the surrounding area or for fire control before missile launch.

The report stated that the Japanese government has lodged a strong protest with China through multiple channels and "formally requested that such incidents not occur again."

"This is a dangerous act, and we are extremely regretful. We have made a strong protest to China," said Japanese Prime Minister Takahashi Asako on the same day, adding that Japan "formally requested to prevent such incidents from happening again and will respond calmly and firmly."

She also claimed that she wanted to ensure absolute security in the so-called "alert and surveillance" activities targeting the Chinese military.

On December 7, Takahashi made a statement regarding the so-called "radar illumination" incident, Kyodo News

At the same time, Japan began seeking support from others, continuing to hype up the tension.

On the same day, Japanese Defense Minister Koizumi Shinjiro mentioned the so-called "Chinese military aircraft radar illumination" incident during a meeting with Australian Defense Minister Marles, exchanging views with him. After the meeting, he claimed, "Japan will fully ensure the alert and surveillance activities, while hoping for sufficient communication with China... Japan and Australia highly value the rule of law order and will make a firm and calm response to such acts, striving to maintain regional peace and stability."

On the same day, the Japanese Ministry of Defense also released a new report on the movements of the Liaoning aircraft carrier. The report stated that on December 7, the Liaoning was found sailing northeast between Okinawa's main island and the Daitō Islands, and sailing eastward in waters approximately 190 kilometers east of Kikai Island, Kagoshima Prefecture.

The report also stated that on December 6, Japan confirmed about 50 takeoffs and landings of carrier-based fighters and helicopters aboard the "Liaoning" aircraft carrier; on December 7, another about 50 takeoffs and landings of carrier-based fighters were confirmed.

Japanese Ministry of Defense releases movement report of the Liaoning aircraft carrier, NHK

Previously, on December 6, the Japanese Ministry of Defense announced that Chinese fighter jets taking off from the Liaoning aircraft carrier had conducted intermittent radar illumination of Japanese Air Self-Defense Force fighter jets twice on the same day. Japanese Defense Minister Koizumi said that they had already lodged a protest with China over this matter.

Koizumi Shinjiro said that around 4:32 p.m. local time on December 6, a J-15 fighter jet taking off from the Liaoning aircraft carrier conducted intermittent radar illumination of an F-15 fighter jet of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force in the international waters east of Okinawa's main island. Around 6:37 p.m. to 7:08 p.m. on the same day, another J-15 fighter jet conducted the same intermittent radar illumination on another F-15 fighter jet.

Kyodo News noted that this was the first time the Japanese Ministry of Defense publicly claimed and confirmed "Chinese military aircraft illuminating Japanese Self-Defense Force aircraft."

This is not the first time Japan has "added drama." In June of this year, Japan also "shifted blame" by claiming that a J-15 fighter jet from the Chinese Navy's Shandong aircraft carrier "tailored" a P-3C patrol plane of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, which was conducting a "reconnaissance mission" in the Pacific Ocean, and "abnormally approached." In fact, the so-called "reconnaissance mission" was actually monitoring the movements of the Chinese aircraft carrier.

NHK mentioned that some people within the Japanese government believe that this incident needs to be "carefully analyzed for its intent and who authorized it," and some pointed out that "similar incidents may continue to occur in the future." At the same time, there were voices saying that "there is no need to escalate tensions according to the other party's rhythm," and the government's approach is to observe the Chinese side's actions and respond calmly to prevent the situation from escalating.

Japanese Ministry of Defense

According to a message on the WeChat official account "People's Navy" on December 7, Rear Admiral Wang Xuemeng, spokesperson for the People's Liberation Army Navy, stated that the Liaoning aircraft carrier group of the Chinese Navy recently conducted normal flight training of carrier-based fighters in the sea and air area east of the Miyako Strait, and had previously announced the training sea and air area.

Wang Xuemeng stated that during the training, the Japanese Self-Defense Force aircraft repeatedly approached the Chinese Navy's training sea and air area, seriously affecting the normal training of the Chinese side, and seriously endangering flight safety. The Japanese side's hype is completely inconsistent with the facts, and we solemnly request the Japanese side to immediately stop slandering and defaming, and strictly regulate frontline operations. The Chinese Navy will take necessary measures in accordance with the law to resolutely safeguard its own security and legitimate rights and interests.

According to a message on the WeChat official account "Ministry of National Defense Release" on December 7, Zhang Xiaogang, spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense, pointed out that the Liaoning aircraft carrier group of China conducted long-range maritime training east of the Miyako Strait, which complies with international law and practice. However, Japan maliciously followed and disturbed the Chinese action, repeatedly sending aircraft into the training area announced by China, and then falsely accused the normal operation of China, which is purely a case of "the thief accusing the victim" and "turning the accusation against the accuser." We express strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition to Japan's provocation and misleading public opinion.

On December 7, Ambassador Wu Jianghao of China to Japan raised a serious protest and strong objection to Japan regarding the relevant incident.

Wu Jianghao stated that Japan ignored repeated warnings and reminders from China, insisted on sending self-defense force aircraft to repeatedly approach the Chinese Navy's training sea and air area, seriously affecting the normal training of China, and seriously endangering flight safety. Japan also turned the accusation against the accuser, releasing information inconsistent with the facts to the outside world, hyping up and misguiding public opinion, and such behavior is extremely irresponsible. China solemnly demands that Japan stop slandering and defaming, strictly regulate frontline operations, and prevent similar incidents from happening again.

According to the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on December 7, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded, stating that the Chinese military has already clarified its firm position on this issue. The truth is very clear, and the frequent close reconnaissance interference of Japanese fighter planes to normal Chinese military activities is the biggest risk to maritime and air safety. China does not accept Japan's so-called negotiation and has already rejected it on the spot, and made counter-negotiations in Beijing and Tokyo respectively.

The spokesperson stated that at the current stage, Japan's hype about the so-called "radar illumination" issue distorts the facts and shifts the blame, stirs up tension, misleads the international community, and is entirely with ulterior motives. China firmly opposes this. We strongly urge Japan to immediately stop the dangerous act of interfering with China's normal training activities and stop all irresponsible false hype and political manipulation.

Recently, after Japanese Prime Minister Takahashi Asako openly made provocative remarks on Taiwan, implying military intervention in the Taiwan Strait, the Japanese government has continued to take a series of regressive actions: approving a supplementary budget, increasing the proportion of defense spending to GDP to 2% in fiscal year 2025; attempting to deploy offensive weapons near the islands adjacent to Taiwan; promoting the export of lethal weapons...

On December 8, the People's Liberation Army Daily published an editorial article titled "Japan's Retrogressive Actions Will Eventually Backfire," pointing out that all these dangerous actions are contrary to the "Peace Constitution." This not only severely impacts Sino-Japanese relations, disrupts the post-war international order, but also poses a serious threat to the peace and stability of Asia and the world. Such retrogressive provocations will ultimately backfire on themselves.

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Original: toutiao.com/article/7581391449799901705/

Statement: The article represents the personal views of the author.