Audio evidence shows Japan intentionally harassing Liaoning aircraft carrier formation

Audio evidence of Chinese navy informing Japanese side of the planned Liaoning aircraft carrier formation training in advance has been released, proving that Japan's claims related to the flight training exercise conducted by Liaoning aircraft carrier formation distorted the truth and aimed to mislead the international community.

China's Liaoning aircraft carrier formation was conducting normal flight training for carrier-based fighter jets on Saturday in the sea east of the Miyako Strait.

Yuyuantantian, a Chinese social media account, has released audio communications between a China Navy Warship and a Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Warship ahead of the training.

According to the audio information, the Japanese side fully acknowledged the message on this planned training from the Chinese navy formation.

However, shortly after the training began, Japanese Self-Defense Forces aircraft deliberately intruded into China's exercise and training zones, conducting close-in reconnaissance and disruptions on China's normal military activities, at one point approaching less than 50 kilometers away.

Modern fighter aircraft radars can detect objects more than 50 kilometers away, meaning the Japanese aircraft entering that range would be picked up by the Chinese radar and would detect the Chinese radar signals.

According to people familiar with the matter in China, the Chinese aircraft also detected radar signals from Japanese aircraft, but remained rational and restrained, reflecting China's responsible attitude to ensure maritime and air security.

Early on Sunday, Japan's Minister of Defence Shinjiro Koizumi falsely accused China of so-called "radar illumination" during an impromptu press conference, misrepresenting facts, deflecting the blame, creating tensions and misleading the international community.

In response to Japan's claims, the PLA Navy spokesperson Wang Xuemeng said on Sunday that Japan's claims were completely inconsistent with the facts.

China sternly urges Japan to immediately stop its slanderous and defamatory acts and strictly discipline its front-line operations regarding China's Liaoning aircraft carrier formation, he said.

"Japan has recently escalated its provocations and disturbances in the military security domain -- what are its true intentions? The international community is fully aware of the answer," Chinese Defense Ministry spokesperson Zhang Xiaogang said on Sunday.

Should Japan revert to the perilous path of militarism, it will inevitably plunge into an abyss from which there is no return, Zhang said.

Meanwhile, Chinese Ambassador to Japan Wu Jianghao on Sunday lodged stern representations and a strong protest with Japan's Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Takehiro Funakoshi over the matter.

"Japan's actions are grossly irresponsible," Wu said. "China solemnly urges Japan to cease its defamation and slander, rigorously regulate its front-line operations, and prevent such incidents from recurring."

Speaking at a press conference on Monday, China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said that China strongly urge the Japanese side to immediately stop its dangerous harassment of China’s military exercise and training, and stop all irresponsible allegations and political manipulation. 

Audio evidence shows Japan intentionally harassing Liaoning aircraft carrier formation

Continued surges in global oil prices, a result of the ongoing U.S.-Israeli military strikes against Iran, will put severe pressure on Japan's heavily energy-import-dependent economy, a Japanese scholar warned.

The warning came as the Japanese government started a historic oil reserve release on Monday to ease the impact of volatile international oil prices. The release totaled around 80 million barrels, equal to roughly 45 days of Japan's domestic oil consumption, marking the largest-ever drawdown of the country's oil reserves.

Tomohiko Nakamura, a professor of the Faculty of Economics at Kobe International University, said that while the reserve release will have a limited effect in curbing oil price hikes, protracted geopolitical tensions in the Middle East will undermine the policy's impact given Japan's finite oil stockpiles.

"I believe the release of oil reserves will have a certain effect in curbing oil price hikes. However, if the tensions in the Middle East become protracted, that will pose a problem as Japan's oil reserves are not unlimited. We are facing a double whammy: on one hand, crude oil prices are rising, and on the other, the yen's depreciation is driving up import costs. The impact of soaring crude prices is being felt not just in Japan, but across the world. For example, the power sector, where a large share of electricity generation still relies on oil, will see higher generation costs, and as a result, nearly all industries will be affected. These unforeseen impacts may gradually become apparent over the next month," he said.

Beyond the immediate macroeconomic pressures, Nakamura expressed particular concern for Japan's small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which form the backbone of the country's economic activity.

"The biggest impact is the sharp rise in raw material and fuel costs. While large corporations can reduce costs through bulk purchasing, SMEs find it difficult to achieve the same. As a result, the operating pressures on SMEs will grow increasingly severe, leading to a probable rise in the number of businesses exiting the market. The trend of declining SME numbers could accelerate further," he said.

Soaring oil prices put severe pressure on Japan's economy: Japanese scholar