Beijing: Japanese fighter jets harassed pre-notified exercise zone

In rebuttal to the Japanese defense ministry, Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman Jiang Bin disclosed detailed information showing that a Chinese naval vessel had clearly notified a Japanese ship of the time and location of carrier-based aircraft training.

Jiang made the remarks Monday at an online news briefing in response to Japanese accusations earlier this month that Chinese military aircraft intermittently locked radar onto Japanese fighter jets during a training mission conducted by the CNS Liaoning aircraft carrier and its task group.

He said that despite prior notification, Japanese aircraft repeatedly intruded into China's pre-announced training zone. "Any political manipulations by Japan to evade responsibility and shift the blame will not succeed," Jiang said.

Last week, according to local media reports, the Japanese defense ministry initially denied receiving any notification from China, but later Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi acknowledged that Japan had been informed in advance. Koizumi, however, claimed the notice lacked specific details, such as the exact time and area of the training, and therefore did not provide sufficient information for risk avoidance.

According to Jiang, on Dec 6, the Chinese warship 101 of the naval task group informed the Japanese side that the group would conduct carrier-based aircraft flight training, with the Japanese warship 116 confirming receipt of the message. Later, the Chinese warship 101 again notified the Japanese side that the training was expected to start at 3:00 pm and last about six hours, primarily south of the carrier, and Japan's warship 116 again confirmed reception.

"Against this backdrop, Japanese fighter jets still intruded into the training zone multiple times to harass the Chinese side. Therefore, the Japanese side shall bear all the responsibility for endangering flight safety," Jiang said.

He criticized Japan for "repeatedly misleading its own public and the international community" and questioned the motives behind Tokyo's accusations. "The Japanese side hyped up a regular military training of the Chinese side as a so-called security threat and portrayed itself, the real provoker, as a victim," he said.

Jiang also linked the incident to remarks made by Japanese politicians on Taiwan. "Is this an attempt by the Japanese side to divert attention from the severe consequences sparked by the erroneous remarks on Taiwan made by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi?" he asked.

He further questioned whether Japan was seeking "to create excuses to break away from the post-war system, to loosen restrictions on its military development, and to revive the specter of its militarist past."

Jiang urged Japan to confront the core issues in China-Japan relations and to "earnestly reflect on and rectify its wrongdoings. Those despicable moves and political manipulation to evade the real issue, to divert attention, or to recriminate, will never work."