The Japanese government spokesperson stated on Monday (June 9th) that the Chinese aircraft carrier Liaoning sailed for the first time through the waters east of Iwo Jima in the Pacific Ocean.
Chief Cabinet Secretary of Japan, Yoshimasa Hayashi, mentioned that Japan will strengthen surveillance and collect necessary information. Hayashi also added that Japan has issued “appropriate information” to China, but did not provide detailed information.
Iwo Jima is located 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) south of Tokyo.
A statement released by the Japanese Joint Staff last weekend showed that the Liaoning aircraft carrier and its accompanying ships were sailing in the exclusive economic zone waters near Minamitori-shima, a remote island east of Iwo Jima.
Japan further confirmed that on Sunday, aircraft and helicopters from the Liaoning carrier conducted take-offs and landings in the southeastern waters of Iwo Jima.
Iwo Jima is strategically positioned in the western Pacific Ocean, almost midway between mainland Japan and Saipan, forming part of the second island chain along with the Ogasawara Islands and Saipan, which are important for restricting China’s movements.
Since late May, Japan has been tracking the movements of the Liaoning carrier and its escorting vessels in the waters around Japan. The Japanese Ministry of Defense’s Joint Staff Headquarters announced on May 28 that on May 25, 2025, at around 7 a.m., the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force spotted five Chinese navy ships, including the Liaoning, sailing about 200 kilometers north of Kuba-shima in Okinawa Prefecture. On the same day, the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force observed multiple take-offs and landings of aircraft from the Liaoning.
The Defense Ministry stated that Japanese aircraft monitored the activities of the Chinese ships, and Air Self-Defense Force fighters were scrambled to respond to Chinese aircraft.
According to three regional security officials and military activity documents reviewed by Reuters, since early May, China has deployed a larger fleet than usual in the vicinity of Taiwan, southern islands of Japan, and the East China Sea and South China Sea.
The documents show that on May 21 and May 27, China respectively deployed nearly sixty and over seventy ships, with about three-quarters being navy vessels. These ships include missile frigates, destroyers, and coast guard vessels. China also sent out two aircraft carrier battle groups, with the Shandong currently positioned in the busy sea lanes of the South China Sea, and the Liaoning off the southeastern coast of Taiwan.