A Chinese fighter jet flew dangerously close to a Japanese military aircraft over the Pacific Ocean, increasing regional tensions. The near miss happened during the weekend as China carried out large-scale military drills near Japan’s territory.
Japan said the Chinese J-15 fighter jet took off from the aircraft carrier Shandong and came within 45 meters of a Japanese Self-Defense Force patrol plane. The incident took place in international airspace.
On Thursday, Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said the close encounter could have led to a serious accident. He called on China to prevent such incidents in the future.
Japan’s Defense Ministry reported other dangerous activity by the same Chinese jet, including flying directly in front of a Japanese aircraft at the same altitude and just 900 meters away. There were no injuries or damage, but Japan officially raised concerns over what it called abnormal flight behavior.
China’s military did not respond directly to Japan’s protest. However, earlier in the week, China’s foreign ministry said its military operations followed international law and were defensive in nature.
The Shandong and another Chinese aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, entered Japan’s exclusive economic zone over the weekend. The Shandong operated southeast of Miyako Island, while the Liaoning was seen near Minamitori Island.
The drills included takeoffs and landings of fighter jets and helicopters and were reportedly aimed at testing joint combat readiness far from China’s coast.
Military experts say the exercises show China’s growing ambition to expand its naval power beyond the so-called first and second island chains in the Pacific. These chains include Japan, Taiwan, and the US territory of Guam.
Chinese fighter pilots have been accused of risky behavior in the past by countries like the US, Australia, Canada, and the Philippines. In February, China also held live-fire naval drills in the Tasman Sea between Australia and New Zealand.
Meanwhile, Japan has announced plans to deploy new missile systems to its southern island of Kyushu. Chinese media criticized the move, claiming it could be seen as offensive rather than defensive.
As both China and Japan expand their military presence in the region, observers warn that the risk of more close calls could grow. Without better communication and restraint, the chances of a serious incident may increase.