China has stated that its Liaoning aircraft carrier was engaged in a routine training mission in the western Pacific, countering Japan’s recent accusations that the vessel had entered Japanese-controlled waters. This comes amid ongoing tensions between the two nations over maritime activities.
Japan’s defense ministry reported on Wednesday that the Chinese carrier, along with two destroyers, sailed between the southern Yonaguni and Iriomote islands in an area where Japan claims to have control. In response, China’s defense ministry emphasized that the flotilla’s actions were compliant with international laws and dismissed the need for any “over-interpretation” of the situation.
Japan expressed its “serious concerns” to China, with Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Hiroshi Moriya labeling the incident as “utterly unacceptable.” Moriya also confirmed that Japan would continue to closely monitor Chinese naval movements near its waters.
The increase in Chinese military presence near Japan and around Taiwan has prompted concerns in Tokyo. Japan has been bolstering its defense capabilities in response, aiming to deter any potential military action from China, which is viewed as seeking to assert its territorial claims in the region.
This latest maritime incident follows other recent clashes, including Japan’s protest over a Chinese navy survey vessel entering its waters and accusations of a Chinese spy plane breaching Japanese airspace.
