The Japanese government is on high alert after the Chinese Navy‘s aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, entered Japan’s contiguous zone for the first time. This comes after a series of provocative acts by the Chinese military, including an incursion into Japan’s territorial airspace last month. The timing of these actions may be aimed at disrupting Japan during its political power vacuum caused by the Liberal Democratic Party’s presidential election.
Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Hiroshi Moriya expressed his concerns about the situation at a press conference and revealed that the government has raised serious concerns with China through diplomatic channels. The Liaoning was spotted near Uotsuri Island in Okinawa Prefecture, accompanied by two destroyers. It sailed between Yonaguni Island and Iriomote Island before heading out into the Pacific Ocean.
Although Maritime Self-Defense Force destroyers and patrol aircraft monitored the carrier, no dangerous moves were observed such as fighters departing or landing on it. Later in the day, three Chinese Navy ships followed a similar route.
The Liaoning is China’s first commissioned aircraft carrier and has a large capacity for carrying fighters. It is capable of conducting missions in remote parts of the sea. The fact that vessels passing between Yonaguni Island and Iriomote Island enter Japan’s contiguous zone adds to concerns about Japan’s security situation.
This is not the first time that Liaoning has sailed into the Pacific Ocean since December 2022 but it previously took a different route that did not require entering Japan’s contiguous zone. A senior official in Japan’s Defense Ministry noted that this new route may become a regular occurrence in future operations conducted by China.
It is believed that China aims to put pressure on Japan, Taiwan, and also test how a lame-duck administration responds following Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s announcement that he would not run in LDP presidential election. The Japanese government is carefully analyzing Beijing’s intentions while Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian stated during a press conference that activities related to China comply with domestic and international laws.
