China Fumes at Japan as Two Asian Giants Stand on War Alert
China has levelled harsh accusations against Japan after the Liaoning aircraft carrier strike group completed a long-distance naval combat exercise lasting more than 40 days in the Western Pacific region. Beijing assessed that Japan conducted dangerous close-range reconnaissance and provocative actions during the drill.
According to a report by Chinese state television CCTV, the Liaoning carrier strike group returned to base on Monday local time. During the exercise, Japanese vessels and aircraft were said to have repeatedly carried out close-range tracking, surveillance, and actions deemed as provocative harassment against Chinese ships.
"The Liaoning carrier strike group maintained a high level of vigilance at all times, continuously launching carrier-based fighter jets for combat strikes, flexibly adjusting combat formations and responding to Japan’s dangerous actions professionally," the state media statement said.
The Chinese condemnation was accompanied by footage broadcast by state media. The video showed patrol aircraft and destroyers of Japan’s Maritime Self-Defence Force (MSDF) operating near Chinese vessels and aircraft.
Japan’s Ministry of Defence stated that it did indeed conduct monitoring. This was not only of the Liaoning but also of two escort vessels that passed through the Miyako Strait towards the East China Sea on Saturday.
The military exercise was previously known to have taken place in the Pacific Ocean east of the Philippines in late May. However, after an initial announcement on 1 June, Tokyo did not provide further detailed information on the movements of the Chinese fleet until Monday.
The Japanese government has yet to issue an official response to Beijing’s accusations. Tokyo has been striving to maintain a balance between demonstrating a firm stance on Chinese military activities and avoiding an escalation of tensions that could worsen bilateral relations.
Tensions have been rising further after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi stated hypothetically in November that Japan could carry out a military intervention should a crisis occur in Taiwan. The statement triggered a strong reaction from Beijing, which considers Taiwan part of its territory and has pledged to take control of the island, including by military force if necessary.
Chinese military activity in the Western Pacific has recently become a serious concern for Japan. Tokyo worries that close encounters between the two countries’ vessels or aircraft could trigger an incident leading to wider conflict. This concern follows several previous incidents, including one in December when a fighter jet from the Liaoning reportedly locked its radar onto a Japanese aircraft near Okinawa.