A formation of the Chinese Navy aircraft carrier Liaoning appeared in the waters east of Okinawa on Dec. 19, local time, according to the Japanese Defense Ministry’s Unification Bureau of Staff Supervision on Dec. 21. The Japanese side said that during the voyage, the J-15 fighter jet(s) and Z-9 and Z-18 helicopters on the Liaoning ship carried out takeoff and landing training.
The briefing said that at about 8 a.m. on the 19th, the Japanese navy spotted the Chinese Navy aircraft carrier Liaoning, a Type 055 destroyer, a Type 052D destroyer, two Type 054A frigates and a Type 901 supply ship sailing in waters about 300 kilometers east of Kitadaito Island in Okinawa Prefecture. During the period from about 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., shipboard fighter jet(s) and helicopters carried on board the Liaoning performed takeoffs and landings.
It is worth mentioning that the Japanese side released the images of the J-15 fighter on board the Liaoning taking off from the aircraft carrier and while flying in the air.
The briefing said that in addition to one Type 054A frigate, five other warships in the formation, including the Liaoning, appeared in the East China Sea on Dec. 14 and 15, then crossed the Miyako Strait between Okinawa’s main island and Miyako Island to the south and entered the Pacific Ocean.
The briefing also said that the Japanese Ministry of Defense sent the Izumo, a quasi-carrier of the First Escort Group of the Navy, to collect information and monitor the Chinese naval formation. During the takeoff and landing of the Liaoning ship’s carrier aircraft, Japanese Self Defense Force fighter jets took off in an emergency to respond.
A Chinese military expert interviewed by the Global Times believes that it is indeed rare for the Japanese to send the Izumo aircraft carrier (or known as Izumo-class destroyer) for tracking.
“Although the Izumo is only a light carrier after modification, it has a full load displacement of 26,000 tons, so using such a large surface ship to track the PLA carrier formation is not the best choice from a technical and tactical point of view, but probably because it does not want to lose too much to the PLA ships in terms of momentum.
As for Japanese expert’s remarks that the “Izumo” class light carriers can gain the upper hand over Chinese carriers carrying 24 J-15s as long as they are equipped with 12 to 16 F-35Bs, the expert say that Japan should recognize the reality that the “Izumo” is not yet equipped with any fixed-wing fighters of its own, while the combat power of Chinese aircraft carriers is a reality.
The next generation of stealth carrier aircraft for Chinese carriers is under development. The key is that China’s aircraft carriers have a large displacement and are equipped with a full range of aircraft types that can operate independently in the future.
In contrast, it is difficult for the Japanese light aircraft carrier to be equipped with early warning aircraft, refueling aircraft and other types of aircraft, so that it could only “follow” the United States to combat in the future.
