Chinese aircraft carrier the Liaoning back home after being shadowed by Japanese warship during drills
- Chinese strike group has spent 20 days conducting combat training in the Yellow and East China seas and the western Pacific, PLA Daily says
- Navy and state broadcaster release images and footage of Japan’s Izumo aircraft carrier and a Japanese fighter jet close by
PLA Daily said the strike group had been monitored and shadowed by foreign warships and aircraft but did not give further details, saying only that the Chinese navy handled the situation “cautiously and effectively”.
However, the Chinese navy and state broadcaster CCTV released images and footage on Friday showing the Japanese aircraft carrier Izumo sailing close to the Liaoning.
On its WeChat social media account, the PLA Navy posted a photo of the two warships in close proximity, without giving details of the location. Another photo – apparently taken from the Izumo and released by the Japan Self-Defence Forces – showed a J-15 fighter jet taking off from the Liaoning while a helicopter acted as a plane guard.
Footage aired on the state broadcaster, meanwhile, showed a Japanese F-15J fighter jet from the perspective of a Chinese J-15.
The Japan Self-Defence Forces said earlier that the Liaoning – along with a destroyer, a frigate and a supply ship – had been observed transiting from the East China Sea into the western Pacific on December 15.
Six days later, the Japanese defence ministry said six Chinese warships had sailed through waters about 300km (186 miles) east of Kitadaitojima, in Okinawa prefecture, on December 19. Japan sent the Izumo and escort ships to tail and monitor the Chinese strike group.
The PLA Navy warships returned to the East China Sea on December 25, according to the Japan Self-Defence Forces.
Last week, Japan’s cabinet approved a record defence budget of 5.4 trillion yen (US$47.2 billion) for the 2022 financial year, saying it was motivated by China’s military build-up.