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China-Japan relations
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Mid-air military stand-off triggers duelling protests in China-Japan row latest

China responds to ‘ill-intentioned’ Tokyo with counter-protest over ‘dangerous’ Japanese maritime behaviour

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A J-15 fighter jet preparing to land on the flight deck of the Chinese navy’s Liaoning aircraft carrier. Photo: AP
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Beijing has lodged “counter-protests” against Japanese complaints over a weekend mid-air stand-off northeast of Taiwan near the Miyako Strait, accusing Tokyo of “purely ill-intentioned” rhetoric and “ulterior motives”.

“Japan is deliberately spreading and hyping up false information regarding military and security matters, thereby stoking tensions,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said on Monday.

“Such actions are entirely driven by ulterior motives,” he added.

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On Sunday, the ministry said that the Japanese manoeuvres posed the “biggest” maritime and aerial security risks, while the Chinese defence ministry lashed out at alleged “malicious” monitoring.

The latest escalation underscores the deepening diplomatic rift between the two neighbours since Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s remarks on Taiwan in November.
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According to Japan’s defence ministry, there were two separate instances of Chinese targeting of its F-15J jets by fire-control radar on Saturday, involving J-15 fighters launched from the PLA Navy’s Liaoning aircraft carrier.

04:47

Why have Takaichi’s Taiwan comments sent China-Japan ties into a tailspin?

Why have Takaichi’s Taiwan comments sent China-Japan ties into a tailspin?
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