China has deployed both of its aircraft carriers—CNS Liaoning and CNS Shandong —to the east of the first island chain since June 7. Japan's military reported that its patrol aircraft was intercepted by fighter jets launched from the Shandong while conducting surveillance.

Japan has condemned China's “close approaches” after Chinese J-15 fighters flew dangerously near to a Japanese P-3C patrol plane monitoring the Shandong aircraft carrier over