The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force has confirmed that since Tuesday, June 17, 2025, several Chinese naval vessels, including the Chinese Kuznetsov-class aircraft carriers Liaoning (ship number “16”) and Shandong (ship number “17”), have been sailing in the Pacific Ocean. In addition, the Self-Defense Force has confirmed the takeoff and landing of carrier-based fighter jets from both aircraft carriers.
The details of the actions of both aircraft carriers and the number of takeoffs and landings are as follows.
On Friday the 20th, it was confirmed that a total of six vessels, including the Liaoning (ship number 16), two Luyang III-class guided missile destroyers (ship numbers 121 and 122), two Renhai-class guided missile destroyers (ship numbers 101 and 104), and a Fuyu-class fast combat support ship (ship number 901), sailed northwest through the waters between the main island of Okinawa and Miyakojima, heading toward the East China Sea. The Ministry of Defense and the Self-Defense Forces conducted surveillance and intelligence gathering using the Maritime Self-Defense Force’s 1st Escort Squadron Murasame and Ikazuchi (Yokosuka), and the 1st Maritime Resupply Squadron Towada (Kure).
In response to the carrier-based fighter jets, the Air Self-Defense Force’s fighter jets were scrambled.