RESTRICTION: USERS MUST CREDIT "PLA NAVY" HANDOUT, MUST NOT OBSCURE LOGO — EDITORIAL USE ONLY

SHOTLIST:

AT SEA (NOV. 18, 2025) (PLA NAVY — RESTRICTED)

1. FUJIAN AIRCRAFT CARRIER (TWO SHOTS)

2. VARIOUS OF KJ-600 EARLY WARNING AIRCRAFT TAKING OFF FROM FUJIAN AIRCRAFT CARRIER

3. VARIOUS OF J-35 STEALTH FIGHTER TAKING OFF FROM FUJIAN AIRCRAFT CARRIER

4. VARIOUS OF J-15DT ELECTRONIC WARFARE AIRCRAFT LANDING AND TAKING OFF FROM FROM FUJIAN AIRCRAFT CARRIER

5. VARIOUS OF EXERCISE AT SEA — NOV. 18, 2025 — RESTRICTION: USERS MUST CREDIT "PLA NAVY" HANDOUT, MUST NOT OBSCURE LOGO — EDITORIAL USE ONLY — The Chinese Navy conducted the first live-force training of its Fujian aircraft carrier on Tuesday, Nov. 18, amid ongoing tensions with Japan over Taiwan.

"This marks the first maritime live-force training mission conducted by the aircraft carrier Fujian since its commissioning on Nov. 5, 2025," a statement by the Chinese Ministry of Defense said.

Aircraft participating in the drills included the J-15T heavy fighter, J-15DT electronic warfare aircraft, J-35 stealth fighter, and KJ-600 early warning aircraft, the ministry said.

Following the exercise, the Fujian returned to a military port in Sanya, located in Hainan Province in southern China.

Japanese Premier Sanae Takaichi said on Nov. 7 that any Chinese military action against Taiwan, including a naval blockade, could qualify as a "survival-threatening situation," enabling Japan to exercise its right to collective self-defense.

Beijing slammed the statement, urging Tokyo to retract the remarks.

After her remarks, Chinese Consul General in Osaka Xue Jian also wrote on US social media company X that he would "cut a dirty neck without a moment of hesitation," triggering a protest by Tokyo.

According to Kyodo News, during his talks with Liu, Masaaki lodged a fresh protest with Beijing over the social media post, which has since been deleted.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning told reporters that Beijing "once again lodged a serious protest over the wrongful remarks" of Takaichi with the Japanese side.

The remarks by the Japanese premier "seriously violate international law," said Mao, stressing that Tokyo should "stop making provocations on issues concerning China."

Mao said Takaichi's remarks "seriously violate" the spirit of the political documents between China and Japan and "cause fundamental damage to the political foundation."

“China solemnly urges Japan to retract its erroneous remarks,” she stressed.

Amid the tensions, Japanese business leader Yoshinobu Tsutsui called for “constructive dialogue toward a solution” with Beijing, “as many (Japanese) companies are active in China.”

China has called on its citizens to avoid visiting Japan, while Japan's top government spokesman, Minoru Kihara, on Tuesday stressed that Tokyo is "open to all kinds of dialogue" with Beijing.

In Beijing, Japanese diplomat Masaaki rejected the basis of China's travel alert, saying that Japan’s public safety situation “is not deteriorating.”

Separately, Japan's Embassy in Beijing called on Japanese nationals in China "to work to secure their safety ... in view of the situation, including local media reports about the recent bilateral ties.”

Meanwhile, Beijing said Chinese Premier Li Qiang does not plan to meet with Takaichi in South Africa, on the sidelines of the Group of 20 leaders' summit this weekend.