Japan publishes routes of Chinese aircraft carriers operating around country
Japan's Defense Ministry has published the routes taken by two Chinese aircraft carriers that have been navigating in waters around the country last month to this month.
The ministry released the details on the ships' prolonged activities on Tuesday. It is quite rare for the ministry to disclose the movements of foreign warships.
The release came after the carriers Liaoning and Shandong were first spotted at the same time in the Pacific earlier this month.
The ministry said fighter jets from the Shandong flew extremely close to a Japanese Maritime Self-Defense patrol plane on June 7 and 8. It expressed serious concerns over the incident.
The ministry said the Liaoning passed between Okinawa Prefecture's main island and Miyakojima Island in late May and traveled southward to a position east of the Philippines.
The aircraft carrier then changed course to the northeast and entered Japan's exclusive economic zone on June 7 near Minamitorishima, the nation's easternmost island.
The Liaoning moved on, turning westward. On Monday, it was spotted navigating in waters southwest of Okinotorishima Island. During this period, fighter jets and helicopters from the carrier were reportedly seen taking and landing around 550 times.
Regarding the Shandong, the ministry said that the vessel was heading eastward in waters southeast of Miyakojima Island on June 7. It then sailed clockwise within or around Japan's EEZ near Okinotorishima Island.
On Monday, the ship was spotted moving westward southeast of Miyakojima Island. In that time frame, a total of around 230 take-offs and landings of carrier-based aircraft were reportedly confirmed.
As of Tuesday, the two Chinese vessels were in the Pacific sailing toward China.
The Defense Ministry is cautiously monitoring the situation.
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