Earlier this month, Japanese fighter jets flew close to a People's Liberation Army aircraft carrier group during military exercises near Japan, sparking mutual accusations of provocation. Beijing claimed the Japanese aircraft disrupted the drills, while Tokyo accused China of instigating the incident. The episode has once again spotlighted China's mainstay carrier-based fighter, the J-15, in service for over a decade and often patrolling hotspots like the South China Sea and Taiwan Strait.
A closer look at China's J-15 fighter jet
Of all the warplanes in China's rapidly expanding air arsenal, it was an older model that sent shock waves across the region earlier this month. The J-15, nicknamed the 'Flying Shark', has been in service for more than a decade as the mainstay carrier-based fighter for the People's Liberation Army Navy.
In the incident, Beijing stated that Japanese fighter jets flew too close to the PLA's aircraft carrier fleet, disturbing ongoing military naval exercises near Japan, potentially in the Miyako Strait area. Each country accused the other of provocation, with Tokyo claiming the Chinese fleet's actions were inappropriate. In the aftermath, the J-15 attracted renewed attention.
Developed by the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) and powered by the AL-31 engine, the J-15 is comparable to the US F/A-18E/F Super Hornet. It frequently patrols potential conflict hotspots, including the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait, as reported by CCTV and Global Times. The aircraft operates from carriers like the Liaoning and Fujian.
This episode underscores ongoing tensions between China and Japan in the East and South China Seas, though no further escalation has occurred.
