On December 6th local time, the Japanese Ministry of Defense stated that the Chinese Navy's Liaoning aircraft carrier battle group passed through the Miyako Strait on the same day and entered the Pacific Ocean to conduct aircraft takeoff and landing operations. On the same day, Japanese Defense Minister Koizumi Junichiro "added drama" by claiming that Japanese Self-Defense Force aircraft were subjected to "intermittent radar illumination" by Chinese military aircraft in international waters, and that he had lodged a protest with China, but remained silent about the actions of the Japanese aircraft at that time.

According to information released by the Japanese Ministry of Defense's Joint Staff Office, around 2 p.m. local time on the afternoon of the 5th, the Liaoning was sailing in the sea north of the Diaoyu Islands' Huangyan Island, approximately 420 kilometers away; around 7 a.m. on the morning of the 6th, the Liaoning (16), the 055-type missile destroyer Nanchang (101), the 052D-type missile destroyer Xining (117), and the Kaifeng (124), a total of four ships, crossed the Miyako Strait and sailed southeast into the Pacific Ocean.

The navigation track of the Liaoning fleet. Photo from the Japanese Ministry of Defense (modified).

Late on the 6th, Japan confirmed that the aforementioned Liaoning aircraft carrier group was sailing in international waters about 270 kilometers west of the Daitōjima Island in Okinawa Prefecture, and that the Liaoning conducted takeoff and landing operations of carrier-based fighter jets and helicopters.

Photos taken by the Japanese Self-Defense Forces of our Liaoning and Kaifeng. Japanese Ministry of Defense Joint Staff Office

In addition, around 3 p.m. local time on the afternoon of the 5th, the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force confirmed that three Chinese Navy vessels were sailing northwestward in the sea approximately 120 kilometers east of the Miyako Islands, which included the 055-type missile destroyer Anshan (103), the 054A-type missile frigate Linyi (547), and the 903A-type comprehensive supply ship Dongpinghu (902). Subsequently, these three ships crossed the Miyako Strait and continued sailing northwestward, entering the East China Sea.

Photos taken by the Japanese Self-Defense Forces of the Changchun, Linyi, and Dongpinghu. Japanese Ministry of Defense Joint Staff Office

According to a report by NHK, the Japanese Ministry of Defense announced on the 6th local time that fighter jets taking off from the Liaoning carried out intermittent radar illumination on Japanese Air Self-Defense Force fighter jets twice on the same day. Japanese Defense Minister Koizumi Junichiro claimed that he had lodged a protest with China over this matter.

Koizumi Junichiro said that around 4:32 p.m. to 4:35 p.m. local time on the afternoon of the 6th, a J-15 fighter jet taking off from the Liaoning carried out intermittent radar illumination on a Japanese Air Self-Defense Force F-15 fighter jet in the international waters southeast of Okinawa Island. Around 6:37 p.m. to 7:08 p.m. local time, another J-15 fighter jet also carried out the same intermittent radar illumination on another F-15 fighter jet.

The report stated that this is the first time the Japanese Ministry of Defense has publicly claimed that Chinese military aircraft have carried out radar illumination on Japanese Self-Defense Force aircraft. Koizumi Junichiro claimed that this action exceeded the "necessary scope" of safe flying and was a "dangerous act," adding that "the occurrence of such events is deeply regrettable."

Regarding Koizumi Junichiro's claim about the Chinese side "illuminating Japanese aircraft," there is currently only the one-sided statement from the Japanese side. The Japanese side did not mention the behavior of its own aircraft at that time, nor is there any other evidence to confirm that the incident actually occurred or to provide specific details.

This is not the first time the Japanese side has "added drama." In June of this year, the Japanese side also "turned the accusation back" by claiming that a J-15 fighter jet from the Chinese Navy's aircraft carrier Shandong had "followed" a Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force P-3C patrol plane conducting a "reconnaissance mission" in the Pacific and had "unusually approached" it. In reality, the so-called "reconnaissance mission" was actually monitoring the movements of the Chinese aircraft carrier.

At that time, NHK quoted two photos released by the Japanese Ministry of Defense, reporting that one photo was taken from the front of the J-15 fighter jet, showing an object resembling a missile hanging under the left wing, claiming that "Chinese military fighter jets may be equipped with missiles." The report stated that the other photo showed the J-15 fighter jet from the left side of the P-3C patrol plane, and the image showed that the fighter jet was flying at roughly the same altitude as the patrol plane at close range.

The J-15 fighter jet released by the Japanese side at that time. Japanese Ministry of Defense

Japanese Prime Minister Takahashi Sanae made seriously erroneous remarks on Taiwan on November 7th, and has so far refused to retract the relevant erroneous statements, which the Chinese side has expressed strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition to.

Reuters reported on December 4th, citing four sources, that after summoning the Japanese ambassador to express protest over Takahashi Sanae's erroneous remarks, China began to deploy a large number of naval and maritime police vessels in the eastern sea area of China on November 14th. As of the morning of the 4th, more than 90 Chinese vessels were still active in the area; earlier this week, the number had once exceeded 100 vessels.

About China's recent military activities in the East Asian seas, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian emphasized on December 5th that China has always adhered to a defensive national defense policy, and the Chinese Navy and maritime police strictly operate in the relevant seas according to Chinese domestic law and international law. Relevant parties should not be overly alarmed or overinterpret, and should not engage in groundless hype.

This article is exclusive to Observer Net. Reproduction without permission is prohibited.

Original: toutiao.com/article/7580922535652147750/

Statement: This article represents the views of the author alone.