Japan hits out at China over close-call with fighter jets

WorldPolitics
12 Jun 2025 • 10:42 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

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  • Japan has condemned China's “close approaches” after Chinese J-15 fighters flew dangerously near to a Japanese P-3C patrol plane monitoring the Shandong aircraft carrier over the Pacific.
  • The Japanese defence ministry stated that the J-15 fighters tailed the surveillance aircraft for 40 and 80 minutes, respectively, with one instance of a jet crossing 900 metres in front of the P-3C’s flight path.
  • Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said Japan raised serious concerns with China, urging them to prevent such incidents.
  • Japan delayed disclosing the encounters to interview the P-3C's crew and assess flight data, while also reporting that two Chinese aircraft carriers, Liaoning and Shandong, were conducting simultaneous operations in the Pacific.
  • China confirmed its carriers were training to test capabilities in far seas defence and joint operations, stating the exercises were routine and not targeting any specific country.

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