Japan Rejects China’s Claims of Harassment During Pacific Naval Exercises

Japan has dismissed China's allegations that its military harassed a Chinese aircraft carrier strike group during recent naval exercises conducted in the Pacific Ocean. The dispute follows claims by the Chinese navy that Japanese ships and aircraft repeatedly carried out close-range tracking, surveillance and provocative actions against a formation led by the aircraft carrier Liaoning during a 40-day deployment. According to Chinese authorities, the carrier group conducted extensive operations in areas including the South China Sea and the Western Pacific, carrying out day-and-night offensive and defensive drills designed to test long-range operational capabilities. Beijing said the strike group remained on high alert throughout the exercises and launched carrier-based aircraft for multiple combat missions. In response, Japan's Joint Staff rejected the accusations, stating that the claims were "not factual." Tokyo said its military would continue to conduct professional surveillance and monitoring activities in Japan's surrounding sea and airspace. Japan had previously disclosed that Chinese naval vessels carried out exercises east of the Philippines in late May and said its forces were engaged in routine information-gathering and observation operations.

The disagreement comes amid growing tensions between the two Asian neighbours. Relations have deteriorated further since Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi suggested last year that Japan could intervene militarily if China attempted to take control of Taiwan. China, which considers Taiwan part of its territory and has not ruled out the use of force to achieve reunification, has since introduced trade restrictions and advised its citizens to avoid travel to Japan. Tokyo has also accelerated efforts to strengthen its defence posture, moving further away from the pacifist policies adopted after World War II with support from the United States. Adding to the strain, Japanese authorities disclosed on Wednesday that two Japanese nationals had been detained in China over alleged violations of export and import regulations. Reports in Japanese media suggested the individuals, employees of Fuji Electric, may have been accused of attempting to remove rare earth materials from the country.

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