The Ministry of National Defense of the Chinese mainland has dismissed Japan’s recent portrayal of routine carrier-based flight training as a security threat.
On December 6, a naval task group from the Chinese mainland, led by PLANS Liaoning, notified the Japanese side via PLANS Nangchang (101) that it would conduct six hours of carrier-based flight drills to the south of the vessel. JS Teruzuki (116) confirmed both the initial notification and a follow-up that training would begin at 3:00 p.m.
In a briefing on Monday, December 15, spokesperson Jiang Bin said Japanese fighter jets 'intruded into the training zone multiple times to harass the Chinese side,' endangering flight safety. He accused Japan of misleading its own people and the international community by hyping up a routine exercise as a so-called security threat.
Jiang warned that 'Those despicable moves and political manipulation to evade the real issue, to divert attention, or to recriminate will never work,' and urged Tokyo to face up to the root causes of tension and rectify its approach.
Observers note that such drills are standard practice for maintaining pilot skills and operational readiness, and that clear communication channels are vital to prevent misunderstandings in shared waters.
Jiang also addressed questions about the National Memorial Day for Nanjing Massacre Victims on December 13, describing the December 1937 invasion and slaughter in Nanjing as 'heinous crimes' and calling on Japan to reflect deeply on past atrocities and to stop whitewashing its history of aggression.
As China-Japan relations navigate these challenges, Beijing’s calls for transparency and mutual respect may shape diplomatic engagement in the weeks ahead.
Reference(s):
China denounces Japan for hyping up regular military training
cgtn.com
