Beijing says the “beauty” of China’s first aircraft carrier led Japan to scramble fighter jets to observe the carrier group as it made its way into the Western Pacific.
The Liaoning, a former Soviet heavy aircraft-carrying cruiser, recently conducted “routine” military exercises in the Western Pacific, further signaling China’s strong desire to field a blue-water navy.
The Liaoning is a carrier on par with the Russian Admiral Kuznetsov.
The carrier group entered the Pacific by way of the Miyako Strait, passing between Okinawa and Miyako Island. Japan’s Air Self-Defense Force (ASDF) scrambled fighter jets to monitor Chinese activities after a Chinese surveillance helicopter took off from one of the frigates accompanying the Liaoning.
“It shows an expansion of China’s maritime capabilities. We should enhance our vigilance and monitoring activities,” Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said in response to China’s latest exercises, according to the Yomiuri Shimbun.
“As for Japan’s close monitoring of the navigation of China’s Liaoning Aircraft Carrier, there is an old saying in China: the love for beauty is common to all,” Chinese Ministry of National Defense spokesman Yang Yujun said Thursday.
“The aircraft carrier Liaoning looks both mighty and beautiful. If some people are attracted by it, they can either appreciate from a distance, or have a close peep,” he added. “We won’t mind so long as these activities are carried out in accordance with laws without jeopardizing the Liaoning’s safety and freedom of navigation.”
Yang’s comments removed defense precautions from the equation.
On its most recent voyage, the Liaoning followed a route taken by a fleet of 40 Chinese aircraft, including several H-6K long-range bombers, in September.
The Japanese ASDF reportedly scrambled fighters 600 times in the first half of fiscal year 2016, mostly in response to approaching Chinese aircraft.
The Chinese carrier group led by the Liaoning sent messages to Japan, the U.S., and Taiwan on its latest trip. “Aircraft carriers are strategic tools which should be used to show China’s strength,” the Global Times stressed Sunday.
“The Chinese fleet will cruise to the Eastern Pacific sooner or later,” the report added, stressing that China may one day put its aircraft carrier off U.S. shores.
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