Japan confirms Chinese naval ship sailed in its waters for first time in 4 years
- The defence ministry said the vessel transited Japan’s waters earlier this week off its southwestern prefecture of Kagoshima
- Officials said Tokyo conveyed concern about the survey ship’s action to Beijing through diplomatic channels
It is the first time since July 2017 that the ministry has confirmed and disclosed a Chinese naval vessel’s intrusion into Japanese waters. It is the fourth time in total for such an incursion.
The Japanese government conveyed concern about the vessel’s action to China through diplomatic channels, said officials familiar with the matter.
But no order based on the Self-Defence Forces Law allowing the defensive use of weapons on the seas was issued, according to the officials.
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The Chinese survey ship was spotted sailing off the southwestern prefecture on Wednesday and Thursday in the so-called contiguous zone outside Japan’s territorial waters, the ministry said.
The ship heading toward Japanese waters from the contiguous zone south of Yakushima Island was spotted by a Maritime Self-Defence Force patrol plane around 8.40pm on Wednesday, the ministry said.
The ship was then seen sailing west of Kuchinoerabu Island in the zone westward around 1.20am on Thursday.
The ministry has determined that the vessel entered Japanese waters, without saying when that happened.
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Diaoyu-Senkaku islands spat deepens as Japan warns China over coastguard ships in East China Sea
China’s increased maritime activities have become a major security concern for Japan and other countries in the region.
On Friday, four Chinese coastguard ships also entered Japanese waters around the Senkakus, marking the first intrusion in the area since October 20.
Japan’s top government spokesman Hirokazu Matsuno said in a press conference it is “a violation of international law. It is truly regretful, and we cannot accept it.”
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Matsuno said Japan has lodged a protest with China because the islets are “no doubt an inherent territory of our country historically and based on international law.”
He added Japan will enhance its surveillance of nearby waters.
On Friday, Japanese fighter jets were scrambled in response to two Chinese and two Russian bombers flying over the Sea of Japan and the East China Sea, the ministry said.
It has also recently confirmed that a total of three Chinese and Russian naval ships had entered the East China Sea through the Tsushima Strait in Japan’s southwest.
