TOKYO -- Chinese fighter jets flew abnormally close to a Japanese patrol plane monitoring a Chinese aircraft carrier in the Pacific Ocean twice within the past few days, Japan's Defense Ministry said Wednesday.
A Maritime Self-Defense Force P-3C plane was followed by a Chinese J-15 from the aircraft carrier Shandong for around 40 minutes on Saturday and 80 minutes on Sunday, according to the ministry. The jet, believed to have been armed with missiles, flew within 45 meters of the patrol plane at the same altitude, a short enough distance to risk a collision.
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