Japan defense chief vows to boost monitoring after sailing of China carrier

Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi has emphasized the urgent need to bolster Japan's defense capabilities in the Pacific, particularly in terms of information gathering and surveillance. This call to action comes in the wake of the recent passage of China's aircraft carrier Liaoning through waters off Okinawa. Koizumi pointed out that the carrier's movement was indicative of China's ongoing efforts to enhance the operational capability of its aircraft carriers and expand its reach into distant maritime and aerial regions as it continues to increase its military activities around Japan.

The Liaoning was accompanied by several destroyers and sailed between the main island of Okinawa and Miyako Island in southern Japan on Wednesday, with carrier-borne aircraft taking off and landing around ten times, according to Japan's Self-Defense Forces. In response to the Chinese vessel's presence, Japan dispatched a destroyer and two patrol aircraft, and scrambled fighter aircraft.

The carrier continued its journey toward the South China Sea on Thursday. The Chinese navy has stated that the deployment of the Liaoning, one of the country's three aircraft carriers, for an exercise was part of its annual routine training plan.