Tokyo: China and Japan continued to exchange words over recent fighter jet engagements between their militaries amid a fresh release of a jet radio clip by Beijing. Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi confirmed on Wednesday that there was communication from a Chinese Navy vessel to a Japanese warship. He emphasized that the Japanese side was 'not provided with any concrete information on what scale' the Chinese aircraft carrier Liaoning's aircraft would 'conduct training or in what airspace.' He defended the scrambling of Japanese jets against the Chinese fighters that flew from the carrier Liaoning, describing it as a 'necessary' and 'appropriate' action on US social media company X. Koizumi also highlighted the importance of maintaining communications with the Chinese side.

According to Anadolu Agency, the ongoing dispute stems from an air engagement between Chinese and Japanese jets on Saturday over the high seas southeast of Japan's Okinawa Island. Koizumi's remarks followed the emergence of an audio clip on Tuesday, recording the radio communication between the Chinese and Japanese forces before the Liaoning began its flight exercises on Saturday. The clip featured a man's voice from the Chinese navy and a female voice from the Japanese side confirming the communication. Tokyo had previously stated that Chinese J-15 aircraft from Liaoning locked radar on two ASDF F-15 jets over international waters, with Koizumi labeling the incident as 'dangerous.'

Beijing, however, rejected the Japanese version of events and the protest lodged by Tokyo, accusing Japanese jets of 'harassing' Chinese forces. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun asserted on Wednesday that Beijing's training activities in the relevant waters and aerospace were 'completely in line with international law and model practices.' He described the maneuvers as 'professional, secure, restraint and beyond dispute.' Guo also pointed out a contradiction in Japan's statements, noting that while Japan claimed it had not received notification from China, it later acknowledged having received Chinese information in advance.

On Sunday, the Chinese navy accused Japanese aircraft of "repeatedly approaching and disrupting" the Chinese naval training maritime area and airspace, claiming it "seriously endangered flight safety."