Large Chinese destroyer spotted in waters near Japan, following law that lets Beijing’s coastguard fire on ships near Diaoyu Islands
- The Renhai-class guided-missile vessel was one of three naval ships seen in the Strait of Tsushima
- The development comes amid concern over a controversial Chinese law that allows its ships to fire on vessels around disputed islands in the East China Sea
The three vessels did not enter Japan’s territorial waters nor take action to pose any threat to MSDF ships or planes, it added.
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The Defence Ministry is analysing China’s intentions in sending the naval ships near Japan at this time.
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According to the Joint Staff, two MSDF ships and a P3-C reconnaissance aircraft spotted the three Chinese naval vessels in the sea about 250km (155 miles) southwest of Tsushima city at around 11am on Thursday.
The three vessels sailed through the Strait of Tsushima and entered the Sea of Japan.
China deployed its first Renhai-class missile destroyer in January 2020.
Equipped with vertical-launch missiles, the destroyer is believed to be capable of launching long-range cruise missiles as well as supersonic antiship missiles.