Key facts
- Japan protested China's live-fire drills conducted within its exclusive economic zone.
- The drills occurred southwest of Okinotori Island.
- China rejected Japan's protest, stating its activities comply with international law.
- The incident involved Chinese and Russian vessels.
- Japan warned nearby vessels before the live-firing exercise.
- The drills are part of increased joint naval and air operations by China and Russia around Japan.
Japan has lodged a formal protest with China following live-fire drills conducted by Chinese and Russian vessels within Japan's exclusive economic zone (EEZ) southwest of Okinotori Island. Japan's government spokesperson, Minoru Kihara, stated that the drills could pose a danger to navigation and that nearby vessels were warned shortly before the exercise. Beijing, through its foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian, rejected Japan's concerns as unreasonable, asserting that China's activities on the high seas align with international law.
The incident, which occurred early Sunday, marks the first time Tokyo has publicly disclosed such drills by China within its EEZ. The area in question is subject to a dispute, with China arguing that Okinotori is a reef and not an island, thus not entitling Japan to claim the surrounding waters as its EEZ. This event further strains relations between the two Asian economic powers, already impacted by previous comments made by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi regarding Taiwan.
Japanese forces observed four vessels—two Chinese destroyers, a Chinese replenishment ship, and a Russian frigate—sailing towards the EEZ before the live-fire exercise. Japan has noted a trend of increased joint naval and air operations by China and Russia around its territory in recent years, prompting Tokyo to enhance its surveillance and defenses.