J-15 jet took off from Chinese aircraft carrier and reportedly came within 45 metres of Japanese patrol plane

Japan has voiced “serious concern” over a near miss involving one of its military planes and a Chinese fighter jet in the Pacific, where recent manoeuvres by Chinese aircraft carrier groups have raised tensions across the region.

Beijing later rejected the criticism, accusing Japan of dangerous behaviour.

The Chinese aircraft took off from a moving aircraft carrier, the Shandong, and reportedly flew within 45 metres of a Japan Self-Defence Forces (SDF) patrol plane shortly afterwards. On Thursday, Japan’s chief cabinet secretary, Yoshimasa Hayashi, urged Beijing to prevent a repeat of the incident, which took place at the weekend.

Hayashi said the near miss, which occurred in international waters, could have caused an accidental collision.