Jiang Bin, Chinese Defense Ministry spokesperson

Question: It was reported the Japanese side backtracked on what they previously said about the flight training of Chinese carrier-based aircraft, claiming that they received the Chinese side’s notification beforehand, but didn’t get sufficient information on the specifics, including the training duration and area, to avoid accidents. What’s your comment?

Jiang Bin: The facts of the incident are clear and the evidence is irrefutable. The Japanese side has no ground to defend or deny its wrongdoing. On December 6, PLANS Nangchang(101) of the naval task group led by PLANS Liaoning notified the Japanese side that the task group would conduct carrier-based aircraft flight training, with Japanese Ship JS Teruzuki(116) confirming reception of the message. Later on, PLANS Nangchang(101) again notified the Japanese side that the training was expected to start from 15:00 p.m. and last for about 6 hours, mainly to the south of the carrier, with JS Teruzuki(116) again confirming reception of the message. 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 on endangering flight safety.

The Japanese side has once again lied to  its own people and misled the international community by hyping up a regular military training of the Chinese side as a so-called security threat and portraying itself, the real provoker, as a victim.  We therefore are entitled to ask the following questions: 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? Is the Japanese side trying to use this incident to create excuses to break away from the post-war system, to loosen restrictions on its military development, and to revive the spectre of its militarist past? We strongly urge the Japanese side to squarely face up to the crux of the current difficulty in China-Japan relations, and 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.