By Berk Kutay Gokmen
ISTANBUL (AA) - A Chinese fighter jet on Wednesday had a “near miss” flight engagement with a Japanese military patrol plane, Tokyo-based Kyodo News reported, citing the Japanese government.
The incident came a day after Japan said it sighted for the first time two Chinese carriers simultaneously sailing in the western Pacific, namely Liaoning and Shandong.
China's aircraft carrier Shandong and four other vessels entered Japan's exclusive economic zone (EEZ) on Monday, Japan's Defense Ministry announced on Tuesday.
On Monday, the Shandong, commissioned in 2019 as China's second aircraft carrier, conducted landing and takeoff drills involving its fighter jets and helicopters north of the Okinotori, some 1,700 km (1,056 miles) south of Tokyo, within Japan's exclusive economic zone, the ministry said.
China, for its part, defended the aircraft carrier's activities, saying they are "fully consistent with international law and international practices."
"China pursues a national defense policy that is defensive in nature. We hope Japan will view those activities objectively and rationally," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian told reporters in Beijing on Monday.