Latest news with #J-15
Kyodo News
15 hours ago
- Politics
- Kyodo News
Japan destroyer sails Taiwan Strait after China jet encounter
KYODO NEWS - 12 hours ago - 00:06 | All, World, Japan A Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force destroyer sailed through the Taiwan Strait last week, days after a Chinese fighter jet flew dangerously close to a Japanese patrol plane over the Pacific, diplomatic sources said Thursday. It was the third known passage through the waterway by an MSDF ship, with all occurring within the past year, apparently aimed at warning China, which continues to pressure Taiwan, the self-ruled democratic island it claims as its own. The Takanami entered the strait from the East China Sea on June 12 and spent more than 10 hours as it sailed toward the south, the sources said. After the transit, the destroyer headed to waters off the Philippines' main island of Luzon. The entire transit was tracked and monitored by the Chinese military, according to the sources. The Takanami conducted a joint maritime exercise with the Philippine Navy on Saturday in a South China Sea area the Southeast Asian country claims jurisdiction over, amid China's intensifying assertions in the waters. The Japanese government has typically refrained from sending MSDF vessels through the Taiwan Strait to avoid provoking China. But it has shifted its stance amid Beijing's growing assertiveness, joining ally the United States and others in asserting freedom of navigation in what they consider international waters. The latest transit came after Japan's Defense Ministry said that a Chinese J-15 fighter jet from the aircraft carrier Shandong approached as close as 45 meters to an MSDF P-3C surveillance plane over the high seas in the Pacific on June 7 and 8. The previous two transits took place in September last year and February this year. The Japanese government has not officially admitted to the activities. Related coverage: Philippines, Japan conduct joint exercise in South China Sea China Coast Guard helicopter enters Japan airspace off Senkakus Japan defense chief vows to enhance transport capacity with new unit
Straits Times
17 hours ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
Japan destroyer sails Taiwan Strait after China jet encounter
A member of the Philippine Navy looks out at the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force's destroyer Takanami in the South China Sea on June 14. PHOTO: AFP TOKYO - A Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force destroyer sailed through the Taiwan Strait last week, days after a Chinese fighter jet flew dangerously close to a Japanese patrol plane over the Pacific, diplomatic sources said on June 19 . It was the third known passage through the waterway by an MSDF ship, with all occurring within the past year, apparently aimed at warning China, which continues to pressure Taiwan, the self-ruled democratic island it claims as its own. The Takanami entered the strait from the East China Sea on June 12 and spent more than 10 hours as it sailed toward the south, the sources said. After the transit, the destroyer headed to waters off the Philippines' main island of Luzon. The entire transit was tracked and monitored by the Chinese military, according to the sources. The Takanami conducted a joint maritime exercise with the Philippine Navy on June 14 in a South China Sea area the Southeast Asian country claims jurisdiction over, amid China's intensifying assertions in the waters. The Japanese government has typically refrained from sending MSDF vessels through the Taiwan Strait to avoid provoking China. But it has shifted its stance amid Beijing's growing assertiveness, joining ally the United States and others in asserting freedom of navigation in what they consider international waters. The latest transit came after Japan's Defense Ministry said that a Chinese J-15 fighter jet from the aircraft carrier Shandong approached as close as 45m to an MSDF P-3C surveillance plane over the high seas in the Pacific on June 7 and 8. The previous two transits took place in September 2024 and February 2025 . The Japanese government has not officially admitted to the activities. KYODO NEWS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Japan Today
20 hours ago
- Politics
- Japan Today
Japan destroyer sails through Taiwan Strait after China jet encounter
A Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force destroyer sailed through the Taiwan Strait last week, days after a Chinese fighter jet flew dangerously close to a Japanese patrol plane over the Pacific, diplomatic sources said Thursday. It was the third known passage through the waterway by an MSDF ship, with all occurring within the past year, apparently aimed at warning China, which continues to pressure Taiwan, the self-ruled democratic island it claims as its own. The Takanami entered the strait from the East China Sea on June 12 and spent more than 10 hours as it sailed toward the south, the sources said. After the transit, the destroyer headed to waters off the Philippines' main island of Luzon. The entire transit was tracked and monitored by the Chinese military, according to the sources. The Takanami conducted a joint maritime exercise with the Philippine Navy on Saturday in a South China Sea area the Southeast Asian country claims jurisdiction over, amid China's intensifying assertions in the waters. The Japanese government has typically refrained from sending MSDF vessels through the Taiwan Strait to avoid provoking China. But it has shifted its stance amid Beijing's growing assertiveness, joining ally the United States and others in asserting freedom of navigation in what they consider international waters. The latest transit came after Japan's Defense Ministry said that a Chinese J-15 fighter jet from the aircraft carrier Shandong approached as close as 45 meters to an MSDF P-3C surveillance plane over the high seas in the Pacific on June 7 and 8. The previous two transits took place in September last year and February this year. The Japanese government has not officially admitted to the activities. © KYODO
The Mainichi
a day ago
- Politics
- The Mainichi
Japan destroyer sails Taiwan Strait after China jet encounter
TOKYO (Kyodo) -- A Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force destroyer sailed through the Taiwan Strait last week, days after a Chinese fighter jet flew dangerously close to a Japanese patrol plane over the Pacific, diplomatic sources said Thursday. It was the third known passage through the waterway by an MSDF ship, with all occurring within the past year, apparently aimed at warning China, which continues to pressure Taiwan, the self-ruled democratic island it claims as its own. The Takanami entered the strait from the East China Sea on June 12 and spent more than 10 hours as it sailed toward the south, the sources said. After the transit, the destroyer headed to waters off the Philippines' main island of Luzon. The entire transit was tracked and monitored by the Chinese military, according to the sources. The Takanami conducted a joint maritime exercise with the Philippine Navy on Saturday in a South China Sea area the Southeast Asian country claims jurisdiction over, amid China's intensifying assertions in the waters. The Japanese government has typically refrained from sending MSDF vessels through the Taiwan Strait to avoid provoking China. But it has shifted its stance amid Beijing's growing assertiveness, joining ally the United States and others in asserting freedom of navigation in what they consider international waters. The latest transit came after Japan's Defense Ministry said that a Chinese J-15 fighter jet from the aircraft carrier Shandong approached as close as 45 meters to an MSDF P-3C surveillance plane over the high seas in the Pacific on June 7 and 8. The previous two transits took place in September last year and February this year. The Japanese government has not officially admitted to the activities.
Japan Forward
2 days ago
- Politics
- Japan Forward
What Was That Lame Response to Chinese Fighter Jets' Reckless Behavior?
Recently, a Chinese Shenyang J-15 fighter jet launched from China's Shandong aircraft carrier made abnormal approaches towards a Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (MSDF) P-3C patrol aircraft on a routine surveillance mission over the Pacific Ocean. Two encounters occurred west of Japan's Okinotorishima Island. First, a Chinese fighter jet tracked the MSDF patrol aircraft for approximately 40 minutes on June 7. Then, a J-15 repeated the aggression by tracking Japan's MSDF plane for roughly 80 minutes on June 8. On each day, the Chinese fighters came within about 45 meters of Japan's patrol plane. Moreover, on June 8, the Chinese jet cut across the path of the MSDF aircraft about 900 meters ahead of it. These Chinese military flight maneuvers were extremely dangerous and unusual and are totally unacceptable. All monitoring and surveillance activities by the MSDF aircraft complied with international rules. They presented no threat or problem whatsoever. China should admit and apologize for its wrongdoing in flying its fighter jets in an aggressive and hazardous manner near the Japanese propeller patrol plane. Chinese Navy aircraft carrier "Shandong" (Provided by the Ministry of Defense Joint Staff Office) Chinese Navy aircraft carrier "Liaoning" (Provided by the Ministry of Defense Joint Staff Office) Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Takehiro Funakoshi conveyed Japan's serious concerns about the incidents to Chinese Ambassador to Japan Wu Jianghao. He also called for China to prevent any recurrence of such incidents. However, it was a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson who responded. For the ministry, the spokesperson asserted China's activities were fully consistent with international law and practices and called on Japan to stop its "dangerous behavior" of "close-range reconnaissance." It goes to prove the old adage, "A thief is by nature defiant." Moreover, an unrepentant Chinese military will likely repeat its provocations. Yoshihide Yoshida, Chief of Staff of the Joint Staff of Japan's Self-Defense Forces, directly responded to the matter. At a press conference, he stated: "We will be implementing even stricter vigilance and surveillance. We recognize that [the approach] was intentional. If we relax our vigilance and surveillance, it will only encourage. We will firmly maintain our will and capability to deter , " Yoshida's statement evinces his strong determination to defend the country. We look to him and the SDF to fulfill their mission. Minister for Foreign Affairs Takeshi Iwaya The reactions of Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya, however, have been pathetic. Such an aggressive approach by foreign combat aircraft is a problem comparable to an airspace violation. Why didn't the Prime Minister and foreign minister lodge firm protests with Beijing rather than just expressing "serious concern?" Remonstrations were made to the Chinese side at levels below the Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs from June 10. That was two days after the second incident. Yet, the vice minister himself did not make a request for another two days, until June 12. That was five days after the first incident. It was also the day after the Ministry of Defense made the incidents public. Any national leader who cannot express the nation's rightful anger is not fit to represent the country. That includes the Prime Minister and the foreign minister. United States Ambassador to Japan George Glass wrote about the incident on the social media platform X. The recent dangerous maneuver by a Chinese fighter jet that put Japanese crewmembers' lives in peril must be another of Beijing's "good neighbor" efforts. Whether it's harassing Philippine ships, attacking Vietnamese fishermen, or firing flares at Australian aircraft, Beijing… — ジョージ・グラス駐日米国大使 (@USAmbJapan) June 12, 2025 He outright stated that the dangerous maneuvers by the Chinese fighter "put Japanese crewmembers' lives in peril." Moreover, he labeled the Chinese aircraft's actions "reckless aggression." It is high time that Japan's Prime Minister, Cabinet members, and other politicians speak out so forthrightly. This incident occurred while two Chinese aircraft carriers, the Shandong and Liaoning, were deployed simultaneously in the Western Pacific. It was the first time for such a joint mobilization. The Liaoning was also the first Chinese aircraft carrier to operate east of the Second Island Chain, which stretches from Japan's Ogasawara Islands to the US territory of Guam. Unless it puts more effort into Pacific Ocean defense, Japan will be putting itself at risk. (Read the editorial in Japanese .) Author: Editorial Board, The Sankei Shimbun
