Letschatstars.

Letschatstars.

Liaoning Aircraft Carrier Breaks Through the Second Island Chain, Japan Fooled

Liaoning Aircraft Carrier Breaks Through the Second Island Chain, Japan Fooled

The Japanese government has confirmed that the Chinese People's Liberation Army aircraft carrier Liaoning has crossed into the eastern waters of Iwo Jima for the first time, executing deck-based aircraft takeoff and landing missions and breaking through the "Second Island Chain." Retired Major General Li Zhengjie stated on the program "Zhongtian Hot Evening Report" that Japan originally predicted that the Liaoning was only conducting short-range missions; however, a week later, the Liaoning unexpectedly appeared outside the Second Island Chain, and he exclaimed, "Japan has really been fooled!"

According to the information from the Japanese Ministry of Defense's Joint Staff, the Liaoning entered the Western Pacific from the Miyako Strait from May 25 to 27, sailed south along the eastern seas of Taiwan and the Philippines from 28 to 30, and left Japan's monitoring range on the 30th. Initially, the Japanese expected it to pass through the Philippines and enter the South China Sea, but on June 7, a week later, they regained track of the Liaoning, which was located about 300 kilometers southeast of Japan's Minami-Torishima.

Li Zhengjie stated, "Japan has really been fooled," emphasizing that when the Liaoning departed, another Chinese aircraft carrier, Shandong, also departed from Hainan Island. Since no supply vessel accompanied it, there was speculation that the Liaoning might only be on a short-range cruise targeted at the USS Nimitz, which had just concluded joint exercises with the Philippines and was returning to Yokosuka Port in Japan. Li noted that Japan had dispatched a ship to monitor the Liaoning at its departure but, judging it to be a short-range mission, returned midway; unexpectedly, on the 7th, the Liaoning had already breached the Second Island Chain, appearing in waters surrounding Minami-Torishima, which he described as a "strategic surprise," adding that both Japan and the United States had been tricked.