In June 2025, Chinese Shenyang J-15 fighter jets intercepted Japanese Kawasaki P-3C Orion surveillance aircraft multiple times while monitoring the movements of China’s Liaoning and Shandong aircraft carriers during their unprecedented joint deployment beyond the First Island Chain. The encounters, occurring in international airspace over the Pacific, saw Chinese fighters approach within 45 meters of the Japanese patrol planes, with some maneuvers crossing directly in front of the slower aircraft, raising concerns of midair collision. These actions coincided with heightened Chinese military activity near contested zones, including the Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands, and were part of broader drills simulating interception of U.S. carrier strike groups. Japan’s Ministry of Defense recorded over 1,000 takeoffs and landings from the Chinese carriers between May 25 and late June, using the surveillance data to publish a detailed report on their movements. While China accused Japan of conducting dangerous reconnaissance near its fleet, Tokyo maintained its operations were lawful and essential for regional security, emphasizing the need for transparency amid rising tensions in the Indo-Pacific.