Tokyo protests after Chinese warplane’s dangerous close encounter over Pacific

A Chinese military fighter jet came perilously close to a Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (MSDF) patrol aircraft over the Pacific Ocean, narrowly avoiding a collision by flying just 45 metres away after taking off from a moving aircraft carrier, the Japanese Defence Ministry confirmed.

The incident occurred last weekend, when a Chinese J-15 warplane operating from the aircraft carrier Shandong executed a series of hazardous maneuvers. Among these was a close pass directly in front of an MSDF P-3C patrol aircraft at the same altitude, maintaining a dangerously close distance of approximately 900 metres between the two planes, the ministry said, Caliber.Az reports per Japanese media.

In response, the Japanese government lodged a formal protest with Beijing, demanding an immediate cessation of such provocative flights. While there were no damages or injuries reported among the Japanese crew, officials expressed “serious concerns” that these reckless approaches could inadvertently lead to a catastrophic accident.

The announcement follows June 9 confirmation by the ministry of a significant escalation in Chinese naval activity, revealing that two Chinese aircraft carriers—the Shandong and the Liaoning—were operating simultaneously in the Pacific for the first time. This development has intensified Tokyo’s vigilance toward Beijing’s increasingly assertive maritime posture.

On June 7, the Shandong was navigating waters approximately 550 kilometers southeast of Miyako Island in Okinawa Prefecture. Two days later, it conducted takeoff and landing drills involving fighter jets and helicopters north of Okinotori Island, situated within Japan’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

Meanwhile, the Liaoning was spotted on Saturday within Japan’s EEZ, roughly 300 kilometers southwest of Minamitori Island, before moving beyond the EEZ boundary to conduct similar aviation exercises on Sunday.

Notably, the Liaoning was observed operating beyond the so-called “second island chain,” a strategic defensive perimeter extending from Japan’s Izu Islands to Guam—a zone Beijing regards as a critical line of defence.

By Vafa Guliyeva