Latest news with #P-3C
12 hours ago
- Politics
Japanese P-1 Patrol Aircraft Underused: Board of Audit
News from Japan Society Jun 28, 2025 13:17 (JST) Tokyo, June 28 (Jiji Press)--The Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force's P-1 aircraft, the first domestic patrol aircraft, is underused mainly due to engine corrosion and problems with electronic devices, the government's Board of Audit has said. Reporting the outcome of its probe into the matter Friday, the board called for making the maximum use of knowledge gained from past malfunctions and conducting appropriate tests to improve the performance of the aircraft. The board stopped short of disclosing details of the low operational status, such as the number of aircraft active at present, citing national security concerns. The importance of monitoring submarines and military vessels in waters around Japan is increasing, especially after the recent close encounter incidents between Japanese patrol and Chinese military aircraft On June 7, a fighter jet based on a Chinese aircraft carrier made a dangerously close approach to an MSDF P-3C patrol aircraft monitoring the ship in the Pacific Ocean. A similar incident happened the next day. [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.] Jiji Press
Japan Forward
5 days ago
- Politics
- Japan Forward
As Iran Heats Up, Japan Faces a National Crisis
It's hard to believe that four former defense ministers attended a meeting that ended up being such an abomination. I am talking about the June 13 meeting of Japan's National Security Council. Regarding Israel's attack on Iran nuclear facilities and other targets, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba instructed the relevant Cabinet ministers to (1) collect information, (2) take all necessary measures to ensure the safety of Japanese nationals in the region, and (3) cooperate with relevant countries to de-escalate the situation and resolve the Iran nuclear issue. These instructions covered nothing more than what the relevant ministers should do as a matter of course, even without instruction from the Prime Minister who convened the meeting. They also lacked any message to the public. Ishiba should have instructed the ministers to prepare measures in the event that Iran implements a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. Furthermore, he should have conveyed to the public the recognition that this situation would not be limited to affecting only the Middle East. Minister for Foreign Affairs Takeshi Iwaya Participants in the NSC meeting included Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi, Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya, and Defense Minister Gen Nakatani. The three joined Prime Minister Ishiba, who called the meeting. All four have served as defense ministers in the past. Within the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, they are also considered well-versed in national security issues. They should be well aware that the escalation of attacks between Israel and Iran could cause a chain of reactions. Those include not only the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz but also the United States' diversion of troops from the Asia Pacific to the Middle East. Chinese Navy aircraft carrier "Shandong" (Provided by the Ministry of Defense Joint Staff Office) Coincidentally, in early June, China's Navy conducted its first coordinated exercise in the western Pacific involving two aircraft carriers, the Liaoning and Shandong. During the exercise, a Chinese J-15 fighter jet tailed a Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force P-3C patrol aircraft flying over the Pacific Ocean for surveillance. The Chinese fighter made a dangerous flight approaching as close as 45 meters to the P-3C. Tensions are rising as Chief Cabinet Secretary Hayashi expressed grave concern. "Such an unusual approach by a Chinese military aircraft could cause an accidental collision," he cautioned. Some Japanese government officials say the inauguration of the second Trump administration in the United States has created a power vacuum in the western Pacific. That, they say, has encouraged the Chinese military to fill the vacuum. At the NSC meeting, the Prime Minister should have instructed the Self-Defense Forces to increase their vigilance in order to prevent the Chinese military from taking further provocative actions. Does he think it is okay to try to resolve matters with China always in a conciliatory manner? After the NSC meeting, Ishiba said of the Israeli attack: "It is completely unacceptable that military means were used while diplomatic efforts for a peaceful solution were ongoing. I strongly condemn the extremely regrettable action." Israel, which has a strong determination to never allow Iran to possess nuclear weapons, may not want to be lectured by Japan, which failed to prevent North Korea from acquiring nuclear weapons. Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (©Getty via Kyodo) and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (©Reuters via Kyodo) Ishiba has characterized the Trump administration's tariff policy as a national crisis. However, the real national crisis lies in China's military actions and the potential blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. 80% of Japan's crude oil imports pass through that narrow neck. It is a mistake to see the impact of the Israeli attack as confined to the Middle East. (A version of this article was first published by the Japan Institute for National Fundamentals . Find it in Speaking Out #1262 in Japanese on October 21 and in English on June 16, 2025) Author: Takashi Arimoto Takashi Arimoto is a Planning Committee member at the Japan Institute for National Fundamentals and a columnist at the Sankei Shimbun newspaper.
Yomiuri Shimbun
16-06-2025
- Politics
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Approach by China Military Aircraft: Japan Expressing Concern Is Not Enough to Resolve Incidents
One misstep could have led to a grave situation. The Chinese military's actions are utterly beyond the pale, and the Japanese government should voice its strong protest. A fighter jet that took off from the Chinese aircraft carrier Shandong sailing off the southern coast of Okinawa Prefecture in the Pacific Ocean tailed a Maritime Self-Defense Force P-3C patrol plane twice, approaching the Japanese plane and getting as close as about 45 meters on both occasions. The Chinese aircraft followed the Japanese plane for about 40 minutes on June 7 and about 80 minutes on the following day. It also carried out a dangerous maneuver, flying across the MSDF plane's path about 900 meters ahead of it on June 8. The MSDF plane was engaged in surveillance operations of the Chinese aircraft carrier when the abnormal approach occurred. The Chinese Foreign Ministry has explained that the reconnaissance activities by the MSDF aircraft were the root cause of the risk, as if Japan were to blame for the incidents. However, the Chinese aircraft carrier was found to have been sailing inside Japan's exclusive economic zone (EEZ). It is only natural for the Self-Defense Forces to monitor the carrier's movements. Beijing's claim is completely illogical. Japan has expressed its concern to China, but given the gravity of the situation, it should lodge a protest and demand an apology. The problem is not limited to the fact that these abnormal approaches are dangerous. The Chinese military had another aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, operating in waters near Minami-Torishima Island inside the EEZ at the same time the Shandong was active. Both carriers had aircraft repeatedly taking off and landing from them. Apparently, the Chinese military was carrying out exercises to enhance its capabilities to operate aircraft carriers and fighter jets in the Pacific Ocean, which is far from China. The Chinese military has regarded the area from the Ogasawara Islands to the south of Guam as the 'second island chain' and the area from the Nansei Islands to the Philippines, which is closer to China, as the 'first island chain.' In the event of a contingency, China plans to employ a strategy of blocking U.S. military movements between these two chains to prevent U.S. forces from entering areas west of the first island chain. This was the first time that China had two aircraft carriers simultaneously deployed in the Pacific. It had one of the carriers advance east of the second island chain, which also marked the first such development. Beijing's move is seen as an attempt to expand its range of action and bring the western Pacific under its influence. China's usual tactic is to try to turn its claims into a fait accompli by repeatedly making unilateral attempts to change the status quo. It has been confirmed that mineral resources such as cobalt and nickel exist in large quantities in the seabed around Minami-Torishima Island. Perhaps China has ambitions to acquire these abundant resources for itself. In recent years, the SDF has been working to strengthen the defense system for the Nansei Islands to deal with China's hegemonic activities. The SDF will also need to allocate more resources to surveillance operations for islands in the Pacific. (From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 16, 2025)
Japan Forward
14-06-2025
- General
- Japan Forward
Chinese Military Jets Make Aggressive Passes Near Japan
このページを 日本語 で読む At a press conference on June 12, General Yoshihide Yoshida, Chief of the Joint Staff of Japan's Self-Defense Forces, addressed the aggressive actions of Chinese military aircraft. He described the behavior as deliberate, noting, "They followed us for 40 minutes, then 80 minutes — and it happened two days in a row." Chinese J-15 fighter jets, launched from the aircraft carrier Shandong , approached Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) P-3C patrol aircraft at dangerously close range on two consecutive days. The Shandong had advanced to waters near Japan's Okinotorishima, more than 1,500 kilometers from the Chinese mainland. According to the Ministry of Defense (MOD), the first close encounter occurred on June 7. A lone J-15 tailed Japan's P-3C for approximately 40 minutes, repeatedly veering side to side as it approached and retreated, eventually closing to within just 45 meters on the aircraft's left side. On June 8, a second J-15 tailed a Japanese P-3C for roughly 80 minutes, coming as close as 45 meters on the aircraft's right side. As it disengaged, the jet crossed in front of the patrol plane at the same altitude, just 900 meters ahead. That day, another Chinese fighter also joined the pursuit. Describing the 45-meter proximity, a Japan Air Self-Defense Force (ASDF) pilot said it felt like "a total stranger walking shoulder to shoulder with you — close enough to break a cold sweat." At the time, China had deployed two aircraft carriers to the western Pacific simultaneously for the first time. Reflecting on the maneuver, one ASDF official remarked, "It was as if they were declaring, 'This is China's airspace.'" Frontal crossings like the one on June 8 are especially dangerous, as wake turbulence can trigger engine malfunctions. Japan's P-3C was conducting surveillance on five vessels, including the Shandong . According to reports, the JMSDF aircraft attempted to communicate via radio, asserting that it was "conducting legitimate mission flights in international airspace." While the MOD has not released the full details of the exchange, it stated that a safe distance was maintained from the Shandong . Chinese military aircraft have repeatedly carried out provocative maneuvers against the United States and other allied forces in recent years. In February, a Chinese J-16 fighter jet closed to within just 30 meters of an Australian P-8A patrol aircraft over the South China Sea and released infrared countermeasure flares designed to evade missiles. According to a 2023 announcement by the US Department of Defense, Chinese aircraft were involved in more than 180 abnormal close encounters over the previous two years. These included incidents where jets flew close enough for crew members' faces to be seen or crossed directly in front of US aircraft at dangerously close range. Around the same time, another Chinese aircraft carrier, the Liaoning , crossed the Second Island Chain — a key US defense perimeter — for the first time. This time, with both Chinese carriers operating simultaneously in the western Pacific, Professor Tetsuo Kotani of Meikai University, a security policy expert, offered this analysis: "This seems to be China's way of sending a warning: 'Don't interfere with our legitimate training in this newly entered area.' It also reflects growing confidence as China continues to strengthen its carrier strike group operations." Author: Toyohiro Ichioka, The Sankei Shimbun このページを 日本語 で読む
Nikkei Asia
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Nikkei Asia
China's fighter encounter with Japan signals Xi's hard line on security
BEIJING -- The latest incident involving Japanese and Chinese forces in the East China Sea underscores how Chinese President Xi Jinping is standing firm on security even as Beijing has taken steps toward rapprochement with Tokyo in other areas. This past week, Chinese J-15 fighter jets from the aircraft carrier Shandong flew abnormally close to a Japanese P-3C patrol aircraft over the Pacific Ocean in what Japan's Defense Ministry has said was deliberate maneuvering.
