TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Japan's military detected a carrier strike group led by China's Shandong to the southeast of Taiwan on Tuesday (July 9).
As the U.S.-led 2024 Rim of the Pacific Exercise (RIMPAC) exercises are conducted around the Hawaiian Islands, the Joint Staff of Japan's Ministry of Defense (MOD) on Tuesday announced that a carrier strike group led by the Shandong was sighted about 520 km southeast of Miyakojima in Okinawa Prefecture. The Shandong was escorted by the Yan'an Type 055 destroyer, the Guilin Type 052D destroyer, and the Yuncheng Type 054A frigate.
Japan also detected the landing and takeoff of carrier-based fighter jets and helicopters from the Shandong on Tuesday.
Japan's MOD and Japan Self-Defense Forces conducted surveillance through the Akebono Murasame-class destroyer from the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force's Escort Squadron 5. In addition, the Japan Air Self-Defense Force scrambled fighter jets in response to the carrier-based combat aircraft.
This is the first time since last November that Japan has confirmed the presence of the Shandong aircraft carrier group in the Pacific Ocean outside the first island chain, reported UDN. It is also the fourth time the Shandong has been observed crossing the first island chain into the Pacific.
In addition, the Ministry of National Defense (MND) said that since 5:20 a.m. Wednesday, it has tracked 37 Chinese military aircraft around Taiwan. Of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft, 36 crossed the Taiwan Strait median line and entered the Western Pacific via the southern and southeastern air defense identification zone (ADIZ).
According to the MND, the aircraft are conducting “joint sea and air training” with the Shandong. The MND said the military is using joint intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance methods to monitor the situation and sent combat patrol aircraft and naval vessels and deployed land-based air defense missile systems in response.

