The Liaoning aircraft carrier participates in a dual-aircraft-carrier formation drill on October 21, 2024. Photo: VCG

 

China’s Liaoning aircraft carrier formation conducted far seas training in the waters east of the Miyako Strait, which is in line with international law and international practices. However, Japan maliciously tracked and harassed Chinese activities, repeatedly dispatched aircraft to intrude into the training area designated and announced by the Chinese side, and afterward falsely smeared China’s normal operations. This is purely a case of the thief crying "thief" and falsely accusing others of one's own misdeeds. We express strong dissatisfaction with and firm opposition to Japan's provocative acts and misleading public opinion, Chinese Defense Ministry spokesperson Zhang Xiaogang said on Sunday in response to Japanese defense ministry’s claims that carrier-based aircraft of China’s Liaoning formation directed radar at Japan Air Self-Defense Force fighter jets in open waters southeast of Okinawa Island, with the Japanese side lodging a strong protest to China.

“Japan has intensified its reckless and provocative acts in the military and security fields. What exactly is it up to? The whole world knows,” Zhang said. He noted that if Japan insists on rewalking the evil path of militarism, it will surely plunge itself into an abyss of eternal perdition. “We urge Japan to earnestly recognize the situation, sincerely reflect on and correct its mistakes, completely abandon any malicious intentions, and refrain from going further down the path of opposing the Chinese people and the international community.”

Global Times