Close Encounter Between Chinese and Japanese Forces in the Western Pacific

The Chinese military recently released a video showing a tense encounter between its aircraft carrier group and a Japanese warship in the Western Pacific Ocean. Such encounters have become more common as China’s navy expands its activities beyond coastal waters. These activities have drawn attention from U.S. defense planners, who refer to the area as the first island chain.

The Chinese military accused Japanese ships and planes of frequent tracking and provocative actions during the Liaoning carrier group’s 40-day deployment in the South China Sea and the Philippine Sea. The carrier group reportedly managed these tense situations with professionalism. Japan has not publicly commented on the incident, and its Defense Ministry did not respond to inquiries.

This incident occurs amid growing tensions between China and Japan. Japan is modernizing its military with U.S. support, a move which China warns could signal a return to Japan’s imperial military ambitions. The Liaoning, a Soviet-era carrier, has served as China’s first operational aircraft carrier since 2012.

The undated footage, shared by Chinese state media, depicts the Liaoning carrier group being shadowed by the Japanese destroyer JS Asahi and monitored by Japanese patrol planes. The Japanese Defense Ministry’s Joint Staff Office confirmed its forces tracked the carrier group as it entered the Philippine Sea in mid-May, with subsequent operations reported in early June.

As the Liaoning returned to the East China Sea on June 20, the Japanese destroyer Asahi was among the monitoring units. A separate Chinese report showed a J-15 fighter jet monitoring a U.S. Navy P-8A Poseidon patrol plane, though details were scarce. The U.S. Pacific Command did not respond to a request for comment.

This deployment marks the Liaoning’s first Pacific operations since December. Last year, both the Liaoning and China’s second carrier, the Shandong, deployed to the Philippine Sea. The latest deployment included combat exercises, flight drills, and search and rescue training. The Chinese navy stated these exercises comply with international law and are not directed at any specific nation.