Japan keeps tabs on 4 Chinese navy ships near Okinawa after military stand-off
Tokyo’s defence ministry says Liaoning and guided missile destroyers sail between Okinawa and Minami-Daito islands, and east of Kikai Island
The Liaoning and three guided missile destroyers were sailing northeast in the waters between Okinawa and Minami-Daito islands, and in waters around 190km (118 miles) east of Kikai Island, Japan’s defence ministry said on Sunday night.
Furthermore, around 50 take-offs and landings by carrier-based fighter jets and helicopters were observed on both Saturday and Sunday, the ministry said. It said Japan had flown Air Self-Defence Force fighter jets in response.
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China had in turn dismissed the claim as “hype” and “inconsistent with the facts”. A spokesman for the Chinese navy said on Saturday that China had only been conducting “regular flight training in a designated sea and airspace” that had been previously announced, and that Japanese forces had interfered with normal training and posed a threat to flight safety.
Since then, Beijing has suspended imports of Japanese seafood, advised citizens not to travel or study in Japan, cut intergovernmental and cultural exchanges and cancelled Japanese films and performances in China.