On October
14, Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force spotted China's Liaoning carrier and
accompanying destroyers south of Ishigaki-jima, observing about 10 takeoffs and
landings before the group headed to the South China Sea. Air Self-Defense Force
fighters scrambled multiple times from October 15-18 over suspected Chinese
intrusions in the East China Sea and beyond.
China separately announced its advanced nuclear submarines tested a missile in the Pacific with a dummy warhead, as U.S.-Japan Keen Sword exercises began on October 19, featuring new missile deployments. Japanese officials called for urgent surveillance amid China's expanding operations, while Beijing described its activities as routine.