The Chinese vessels traversed the contiguous zone, an area extending 24 nautical miles from shore, between Okinawa Prefecture's Yonaguni and Iriomote islands. While not violating Japan's territorial waters, the move prompted Tokyo to express "serious concerns" to Beijing.
Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Hiroshi Moriya told reporters at a press conference that such actions are "utterly unacceptable in terms of our nation's security environment."
The maritime maneuver comes amid heightened friction following a Chinese military surveillance aircraft's intrusion into Japanese airspace over the East China Sea in late August. Yonaguni, Japan's westernmost island, lies about 150 kilometers southwest of the disputed Senkaku Islands, which are controlled by Tokyo but claimed by Beijing.
In response to the incident, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian defended the carrier's passage, saying it was "in compliance with China's domestic and international laws." The Liaoning, a refurbished Russian-made vessel commissioned in 2012, features a distinctive "ski-jump" takeoff ramp for launching aircraft.
