ISTANBUL

China said Thursday that Japanese media reports claiming Tokyo is considering sinking China’s first electromagnetic catapult-equipped aircraft carrier in the event of a conflict over Taiwan are “nothing but sheer fantasy and an overestimation of one’s own abilities,” according to the state-run Global Times.

Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman Jiang Bin made the remarks during a news conference after Japan’s daily The Sankei Shimbun reported earlier this month that Tokyo considers the Fujian carrier a priority target if China attacks Taiwan.

The report followed comments on Nov. 7 by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi that a Chinese attack on Taiwan could legally constitute a “survival-threatening situation,” potentially enabling Japan to “exercise the right of collective self-defense.” Her remarks heightened tension between Beijing and Tokyo.

Tokyo did not respond immediately to Beijing's statement when this report was published.

Jiang said, “Fujian’s combat capability will be proven by facts,” and dismissed criticism of the carrier’s performance, referring to what he called a “sour-grape” claim attributed to media reports citing Carl Schuster, a former US Navy captain.

Schuster told CNN that Fujian cannot conduct simultaneous fighter takeoffs and landings and that its operational capability is “only about 60% of that of the Nimitz class.”

Unveiled in June 2022, Fujian is China’s largest-ever naval vessel and its third aircraft carrier, following the Liaoning and Shandong.