Key Facts
• June 8: Japan’s Ministry of Defense confirmed Liaoning’s entry into Japan’s EEZ near Minamitorishima.
• June 7: Five Chinese naval vessels, including Liaoning, spotted 300 km southwest of Minamitorishima.
• June 8: Aircraft and helicopters from Liaoning conducted takeoff and landing drills in international waters.
• The activity occurred near the Second Island Chain, a strategic line from the Ogasawara Islands to Guam.
• Japan views this as China’s effort to enhance long-range operational capabilities.
• China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated the activity complies with international law.
• Japan has increased surveillance and intelligence gathering in response to China’s expanding naval activities.
• Liaoning, China’s first aircraft carrier, was commissioned in 2012 after being refurbished from a Soviet carrier.
• Minamitorishima, a remote Japanese island, is 1,800 km from mainland Japan and strategically significant.
• The island hosts Japan Meteorological Agency staff and Maritime Self-Defense Force units.
Summary
China’s aircraft carrier Liaoning entered Japan’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) near Minamitorishima for the first time on June 8, prompting heightened vigilance from Tokyo. The carrier, accompanied by four other vessels, was observed conducting operations near the Second Island Chain, a key strategic area. Japan’s Ministry of Defense views this as part of China’s efforts to enhance its long-range operational capabilities. In response, Japan has bolstered its surveillance and intelligence measures. Meanwhile, China asserts that its activities comply with international law. Liaoning, commissioned in 2012, is China’s first aircraft carrier, originally a Soviet vessel. Minamitorishima, a remote island with strategic importance, is uninhabited except for meteorological and defense personnel.
