China has accused Japan of “dangerous” close-in reconnaissance and “provocative harassment” during more than 40 days of “far-sea combat training” by a Chinese Navy aircraft carrier flotilla, according to Chinese state-run TV.

The Chinese Navy’s Liaoning aircraft carrier flotilla returned to its home port on Monday, after the long-range training saw “Japanese vessels and aircraft repeatedly conducted close-range tracking, surveillance and provocative harassment,” state broadcaster CCTV said. 

“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,” CCTV added.