Japan-China Warplane Dispute: Pacific Protest
- Tokyo has lodged a formal protest with Beijing following what it described as hazardous maneuvers by Chinese fighter jets operating near Japanese maritime patrol aircraft in the Pacific...
- According to reports, a Chinese J-15 warplane from the Shandong aircraft carrier approached within 147 feet of a Japanese P-3C surveillance plane.
- Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi stated that Japan has expressed serious concern to China, requesting measures to prevent similar incidents from happening again.
Japan Protests Risky China Aircraft Carrier Maneuvers in Pacific
Updated June 12, 2025
Tokyo has lodged a formal protest with Beijing following what it described as hazardous maneuvers by Chinese fighter jets operating near Japanese maritime patrol aircraft in the Pacific Ocean. The incidents occurred as china deployed two aircraft carriers, marking the first time both have been active concurrently in the region.
According to reports, a Chinese J-15 warplane from the Shandong aircraft carrier approached within 147 feet of a Japanese P-3C surveillance plane. Japan’s defense ministry stated the Chinese J-15 fighter chased a P-3C for 40 minutes on Saturday and 80 minutes on Sunday, crossing in front of the Japanese aircraft at a distance of roughly 2,952 feet. These actions, Japan argues, could have led to accidental collisions.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi stated that Japan has expressed serious concern to China, requesting measures to prevent similar incidents from happening again. The Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force, based in okinawa, was conducting surveillance in international waters when the encounters occurred.
The defense ministry released images of the J-15 taken on Sunday, emphasizing that no damage or injuries resulted from the encounters. Hayashi affirmed that japan will maintain communication with China and continue monitoring airspace around its territory.
“We have expressed serious concern to the Chinese side and solemnly requested prevention of recurrence,” Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said.
A similar incident occurred in 2014 when Chinese Su-27 fighters approached within 98 feet of Japanese military planes. The Shandong aircraft carrier also conducted takeoff and landing drills near Okinotori Island,within Japan’s exclusive economic zone.
What’s next
Japan will likely continue diplomatic efforts to address the situation and reinforce its maritime surveillance activities in the region, while closely monitoring China’s aircraft carrier deployments and military exercises.