The Chinese aircraft carrier Liaoning Strike Group returned on Friday to the East China Sea after completing a six-day patrol in the Philippine Sea, near southwestern Japan. The conclusion of the operation came after two incidents in which embarked J-15 fighters of the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) illuminated Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) F-15J aircraft with their radars, as they were deployed for surveillance and interception tasks.
According to Japan’s Joint Staff, the naval group was observed sailing northwest between Okinawa and Miyako Island to re-enter the East China Sea. The strike group was composed of the aircraft carrier CNS Liaoning (16), the cruiser CNS Nanchang (101), the destroyers CNS Xining (117) and CNS Kaifeng (124), and the fast combat support ship CNS Hulunhu (901).
During the patrol, the Japanese destroyer JS Teruzuki (DD-116) and a P-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft conducted continuous tracking of the Chinese group. Liaoning entered the Philippine Sea on December 6, while Teruzuki had begun tracking the formation the previous day, when the Chinese ships were still in the East China Sea.
Aerial operations and Japanese response
Throughout the six-day deployment, fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters embarked on Liaoning conducted a combined total of 260 aerial sorties. In response to aircraft launches from the carrier, the JASDF scrambled alert fighters to carry out identification and airspace control missions.
According to Japan’s Ministry of Defense, the radar incidents occurred in two separate events in airspace over international waters southeast of Okinawa. On both occasions, Shenyang J-15 fighters intermittently illuminated Japanese F-15J interceptors with their fire-control radars.
In an official statement, Japan’s Ministry of Defense stated that: “…these radar irradiations constitute dangerous actions that go beyond what is necessary for the safe operation of aircraft, and it is extremely regrettable that such incidents have occurred. It also reports that a strong protest was lodged with the Chinese side, strictly requesting the prevention of future incidents…”. The Ministry also confirmed that “…there was no damage to either the aircraft or the members of the Self-Defense Forces…”.
Differences between Tokyo and Beijing over the incident
Japan and China maintain opposing versions of what occurred on December 6. Beijing claimed that the F-15Js entered a previously notified training area, while Japanese authorities stated that insufficient information was provided regarding the scale of the exercise or the airspace involved.
At a press conference, Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi stated that, while there were communications between ships, China did not issue a formal Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) nor navigation warnings with precise coordinates. Koizumi maintained that the Japanese air response was “appropriate and necessary,” given that Liaoning was operating in proximity to Japanese islands, which triggered regular measures within the Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ).
“The core of the problem is that, while we were appropriately carrying out ADIZ measures, the Chinese side conducted intermittent radar illuminations for approximately 30 minutes,” Koizumi said, adding that Japan will demand that China prevent similar incidents in the future. The minister also indicated that at no time did the Japanese F-15Js use their radars against the Chinese aircraft.
Following these incidents, we observe that tensions between Beijing and Tokyo continue to rise, with each exercise or activity conducted by one side being perceived as a provocation by the other.
Images for illustrative purposes.
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