China condemned on Thursday what it described as “dangerous behavior” by a Japanese military plane over the Pacific, following Tokyo’s report that Chinese fighter jets flew unusually close to its aircraft over the weekend. The Japanese government lodged a formal complaint with China regarding this incident, although no Japanese military personnel sustained injuries.
According to the Japanese defense ministry, a Chinese J-15 fighter jet from the Shandong aircraft carrier shadowed a Japanese P-3C patrol plane for 40 minutes on Saturday. Additionally, two J-15 jets followed the same patrol plane for 80 minutes on Sunday. An official from the Japanese ministry stated that the jets flew within 45 meters of the P-3C during both encounters.
On the same Sunday, Chinese jets crossed into airspace approximately 900 meters ahead of a P-3C Japanese patrol plane. This occurred at the same altitude, a distance that the P-3C could cover within seconds at cruising speed. Chief of Staff Yoshihide Yoshida expressed skepticism about the Chinese jets’ intentions, stating, “We do not believe that this approach was made by mistake.”
Japan’s Response to Chinese Maneuvers
Yoshida emphasized that the prolonged nature of the encounters indicated intentional actions by the Chinese military. He noted that the incidents occurred for 40 minutes and 80 minutes over two consecutive days. This pattern led Japan to conclude that the maneuvers were deliberate provocations.
In response, Beijing’s foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian criticized Japan’s portrayal of the events. He asserted that the “root cause of the risk to maritime and air security” stemmed from Japan’s close reconnaissance of China’s normal military activities. Lin urged Japan to cease what he described as “dangerous behavior.”
This incident coincided with the recent sighting of two Chinese aircraft carriers operating in the Pacific simultaneously for the first time. Japan characterized this activity, which China labeled as “routine training,” as indicative of Beijing’s expanding military reach. Yoshida warned that relaxing Japan’s surveillance and countermeasures would encourage attempts to alter the status quo through force.
Tokyo’s top government spokesman, Yoshimasa Hayashi, expressed serious concerns about the potential for accidental collisions due to these abnormal approaches. He reiterated Japan’s commitment to addressing these issues with the Chinese side.
International Reactions and Historical Context
US Ambassador to Japan George Glass voiced his concerns on social media, stating that the Chinese fighter maneuvers endangered the lives of Japanese crew members. He criticized Beijing’s aggressive tactics, highlighting a pattern of reckless behavior towards other nations. Glass remarked, “Not so much a charm offensive as offensive harm.”
Similar incidents occurred in May and June 2014, when Chinese Su-27 fighter jets flew within 30 meters of Japanese military planes in the East China Sea. At that time, Japan summoned the Chinese ambassador, leading to a series of mutual accusations.
Daisuke Kawai, director of the University of Tokyo’s economic security and policy innovation program, suggested that the timing of the aircraft carrier movements might relate to ongoing US-China economic tensions. He noted that Beijing likely perceived this moment as an opportunity to showcase its expanding military capabilities, believing the United States would be less inclined to respond militarily.
