Japan’s Defense Minister said on May 10 that Chinese fighter jets have taken off and landed on an aircraft carrier more than 100 times in the past week while sailing near the southwestern prefecture of Okinawa.
The takeoffs took place in waters between 160 kilometers (99 miles) southwest of Okinawa’s Okidaito Island and 150 kilometers (93 miles) south of Ishigaki Island from May 3 to May 7, Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi told reporters.
Kishi said the activities could be part of China’s efforts to improve its capabilities to operate aircraft carriers and conduct operations in more distant waters and airspace, Japan Times reported.
“Given that these activities are in the sea and airspace near Japan’s Nansei Islands and Taiwan, we must watch these activities with concern,” he added.
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