Japan photographs China's carrier Liaoning group near Okinawa

Chinese aircraft carrier Liaoning, hull number 16, under way at sea with aircraft on deck, photographed by Japan's navy. — Japan Joint Staff / JMSDF photo · CC BY 4.0 (Government of Japan Standard Terms of Use 2.0)

Japan's Joint Staff released this Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force photo of the Chinese aircraft carrier Liaoning (hull 16) with an Oct. 16, 2026 press release. The Joint Staff says JMSDF spotted Liaoning with two Renhai-class and one Luyang-III-class destroyers about 390 km southwest of the Danjo Islands on Oct. 13, saw the group pass between Okinawa and Miyako-jima into the Pacific on Oct. 14, and observed carrier fighter takeoffs and landings about 250 km south of Ishigaki-jima. It says JASDF fighters scrambled in response.

What: Japan photographs China's carrier Liaoning group near Okinawa
Where: East China Sea and Pacific, southwest of Japan
When: Oct 13, 2026
Who: Japan Joint Staff (Ministry of Defense)
Status: Official release
Warning: Content warning: None. Surveillance photo of warships at sea; no people are harmed. Graphic level: none.

Sources

Japan Joint Staff (Ministry of Defense) · Activities of a Chinese Navy Aircraft Carrier (Event Summary, Oct. 16, 2026)

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Record details

Captured 13 October 2026. Time captured: not stated. Releasing authority: Japan Joint Staff (Ministry of Defense). Location: East China Sea and Pacific, southwest of Japan.

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Credit: Japan Joint Staff / JMSDF photo. License: CC BY 4.0 (Government of Japan Standard Terms of Use 2.0).