[Epoch Times November 20, 2021](Epoch Times reporter Chen Ting comprehensive report) The Ministry of Defense of Japan stated on the evening of Friday (November 19) that earlier this week a Chinese navy ship was in the territorial waters near southwestern Japan. Sailing. In addition, it was discovered that Chinese and Russian military aircraft were patrolling in airspace near Japan. The Ministry of Defense is analyzing the purpose of this series of operations.
This is the fourth time in history that the Japanese side confirmed and announced the invasion of a Chinese warship. The last time a similar incident occurred was in July 2017.
According to a report by Kyodo News (link), Japanese officials stated that the government has expressed its concerns about the ship’s actions to Beijing through diplomatic channels. The official also stated that Japan has not issued an order to allow the Maritime Self-Defense Force to use weapons.
The Ministry of Defense stated that a Chinese naval survey ship passed through the adjacent area south of Yakushima Island to the west of Japan’s territorial waters at around 8:40 pm on the 17th. At around 1:20 am on the 18th, the ship sailed to the west of Nagabe Island. Adjacent area.
Based on the observed signs, the Ministry of Defense determined that Chinese warships entered Japanese territorial waters on Wednesday night and early Thursday morning.
At the same time, according to a report by Japan’s HNK (link), on November 18, the Ministry of Defense of Japan also confirmed that Chinese and Russian naval vessels have passed the Tsushima Strait one after another.
The Ministry of Defense pointed out that two Chinese warships and a Russian warship were found on the same day near Tsushima Island in Nagasaki Prefecture, going south along the Tsushima Strait and entering the East China Sea from the Sea of Japan.
Since the Tsushima Strait is an “international strait”, according to international conventions, foreign ships including warships can pass through, including warships.
On Friday, the Japanese side also spotted four Chinese coast guard ships entering the waters near the Japanese Senkaku Islands (known as the Diaoyu Islands in China). This is after October 20 when Chinese ships invaded the area again.
The Japanese side stated that the increasingly frequent maritime operations of the Chinese Navy have become a major security issue for Japan and other countries in the region. The Ministry of Defense stated that the agency is analyzing the purpose of this series of actions.
At the same time, the Ministry of Defense of Japan also pointed out (link) that in terms of air safety, it was discovered that Chinese and Russian bombers were patrolling in the airspace surrounding Japan.
The Ministry of Defense stated that two Chinese bombers and two Russian bombers flew from the Japanese sea to the East China Sea on November 19, and then flew between Okinawa and Miyakojima, Japan, to the Pacific Ocean.
After that, the four military planes flew back along the original route, and the incident triggered an emergency lift-off alert by the Japan Air Self-Defense Force. However, these four bombers did not violate Japan’s airspace.
The Japanese side stated that this is the third time that China-Russia military aircraft has announced a joint cruise, and the last time it was in December 2020.
Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Hiroichi Matsuno said at a press conference that this invasion of territorial waters is “an act in violation of international law. This is indeed regrettable and we cannot accept it.”
He added that Japan will increase its vigilance in nearby waters.
Editor in charge: Ye Ziwei
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