Japan’s Defense Ministry has denied claims that the Self-Defense Forces “harassed” a Chinese aircraft carrier strike group during more than 40 days of “far-seas combat training” — the latest heated exchange between the two countries.

Beijing accused Tokyo of repeated “dangerous” close-in reconnaissance and “provocative harassment” during the training that involved the Chinese Navy’s Liaoning aircraft carrier, China’s CCTV state broadcaster said earlier this week. 

“The Liaoning carrier group maintained a high state of alert throughout, continuously launching carrier-based fighter aircraft for combat sorties, flexibly adjusting combat formations and responding professionally to Japan’s dangerous actions,” the report said.