Chinese carrier fleet sails near Okinawa
14:06 JST, December 17, 2022
A Chinese Navy fleet of six warships, including the aircraft carrier Liaoning, sailed through a sea area between Okinawa and Miyako islands, both in Okinawa Prefecture, into the Pacific Ocean on Friday, the Defense Ministry announced on the day.
The fleet did not intrude into Japanese territorial waters. The Maritime Self-Defense Force deployed aircraft, including a P-1 patrol plane, for vigilance.
It was a movement of unprecedented scale for a Chinese Navy fleet, and the ministry was analyzing the Chinese side’s intentions.
According to the ministry, the Chinese fleet including the Liaoning sailed southward in a sea area about 440 kilometers off Fukue Island of Nagasaki Prefecture around 10 a.m. Thursday, and conducted takeoff and landing operations of the carrier’s helicopters in the East China Sea on Friday. Then the fleet headed for the Pacific Ocean.
Also in May this year, the Liaoning carried out more than 300 takeoff and landing drills in a period longer than half month in the Pacific Ocean near Okinawa Island.
"Politics" POPULAR ARTICLE
-
Presidential Race for Japan’s LDP Hinges on ‘Change’; Younger Politicians Prepare to Jump In
-
Ishiba Favored by Older Voters, Koizumi by Young in LDP Presidential Race, Says Poll
-
Japan’s LDP Presidential Candidates Time Announcements of Runs; Better to Gain Attention Now or Quietly Build Support?
-
Japanese Government Tells Australia of Willingness to Cooperate in Building Warships; New Model Based on Mogami-Class Frigate
-
Japan’s Ishiba Announces Final Bid for LDP President; Ishiba Vows to Establish LDP that Will ‘Abide by the Rules’
JN ACCESS RANKING
- Nankai Trough Megaquake Tsunami could Hit in 2 Minutes; Japan Authorities Urge Caution after Recent Earthquake
- Typhoon Shanshan Forms, Slowly Moves Toward Japan; Govt Says Typhoon No. 10 Likely to Approach Japan Next Week
- Tokyo Companies Prepare for Ashfall From Mt. Fuji Eruption; Disposal Of Ash, Possibly at Sea, A Major Challenge
- Shizuoka Pref. City Offers Foreigners Free Japanese Language Classes; Aims to Raise Non-Natives to Daily Conversation Level
- Typhoon No. 10 Forecast to Develop; Move into Pacific Ocean South of Japan on Aug. 26