Tokyo, Oct. 14 (Jiji Press)–Chinese fighter jets took off from and landed at the country’s Liaoning aircraft carrier Wednesday after the vessel sailed between the main island of Japan’s southernmost prefecture of Okinawa and Okinawa’s Miyako Island, the Japanese Defense Ministry’s Joint Staff said. The Chinese navy said earlier on Wednesday that the Liaoning has headed for the western Pacific for routine drills based on an annual training program. According to the Joint Staff, the Liaoning and three other Chinese warships sailed southeast between Okinawa’s main island and Miyako Island on Wednesday. Later, Chinese fighters took off from and landed at the Liaoning while the aircraft carrier was in an area about 250 kilometers south of Ishigaki Island, part of Okinawa. In response, a destroyer and patrol planes of Japan’s Maritime Self-Defense Force were mobilized for surveillance operations. In addition, the Air SDF scrambled its fighter jets. Last December, a Chinese J-15 fighter jet that took off from the Liaoning during drills used its radar on an ASDF F-15 fighter on a surveillance mission for possible airspace violation over the high seas southeast of the main island of Okinawa. The very unusual incident, which came after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi made parliamentary remarks last November regarding a possible contingency over Taiwan, further heightened tensions between Japan and China. The radar incident prompted the Japanese government to lodge a protest to the Chinese side. The Liaoning was confirmed to have also conducted take-off and landing drills in the western Pacific in May this year. China possesses three aircraft carriers, including the Liaoning. A fourth flattop that may be the country’s first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier is reportedly under construction. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]
