Beijing [China], June 10: Japan's Defense Ministry sent a destroyer to gather information and said that China's Liaoning aircraft carrier strike group crossed the second island chain in the Pacific for the first time.
Jiji Press on the evening of June 9 quoted the Japanese Ministry of Defense as saying that China's Liaoning aircraft carrier had crossed the second island chain in the Pacific Ocean, the island chain connecting Japan's Ogasawara Islands and the US island of Guam.
This is the first time a Chinese aircraft carrier has crossed the second island chain, a move that is seen as a warning to the US. China views the second island chain as one of its defense lines to prevent the US military from approaching in case of emergency.
According to the Japanese Ministry of Defense, four ships including the Liaoning aircraft carrier and a missile destroyer entered Japan's exclusive economic zone on June 7, about 300 km from Minamitorishima Island. Minamitorishima is a remote Japanese island, part of the Ogasawara island chain.
In addition, fighter jets and helicopters took off and landed on June 8 from the Liaoning aircraft carrier at a point between Minamitorishima and Ioto, another island in the Ogasawara chain also known as Iwo Jima.
China is believed to be trying to increase the operational capabilities of its aircraft carriers and operate them in distant waters. The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force destroyer Haguro has been on alert and collecting information regarding the above activities.
The three island chain strategy was originally built by the US to surround China and the former Soviet Union. Besides the second island chain , the first island chain starts at the Kuril/Chishim Islands, ends at Borneo and the northern part of the Philippines.
The third island chain begins at the Aleutian Islands and ends in Oceania, where the Hawaiian Islands are located.
In a related development, Kyodo news agency reported on June 10 that the Japanese government confirmed for the first time that two Chinese aircraft carriers were operating simultaneously in the Pacific Ocean, when the Shandong aircraft carrier appeared near Japan's southernmost island of Okinotori.
Accompanied by four ships including a missile destroyer, the Shandong sailed through waters about 550 kilometers (340 miles) off Miyako Island in southern Okinawa Prefecture at around 1 p.m. on June 7.
After the Japanese Ministry of Defense reported on the Liaoning aircraft carrier, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said that the activities of Chinese military vessels in relevant waters are completely in accordance with international law and international practice.
"China pursues a defense policy that is defensive in nature. We hope Japan will view such activities objectively and rationally," according to USNI News .
Source: Thanh Nien Newspaper
