TOKYO — A Chinese fighter jet’s close encounter with a Japanese patrol plane over the weekend is part of a push by Beijing to show its combat capabilities in the Pacific to the U.S. and Japan, an analyst says.
A Maritime Self-Defense Force P-3C plane was followed by a Chinese J-15 fighter for around 40 minutes on Saturday and 80 minutes on Sunday, the Ministry of Defense said on Thursday. The Chinese jet flew within 45 meters of the patrol plane at the same altitude, according to Tokyo.
