The intelligence ship was spotted around 3:30am local time Wednesday near Kuchinoerabu island in southern Japan. The ship reportedly left Japanese waters 90 minutes later.
China claims it was acting within its rights according to international law and freedom of navigation.
The area in question divides the Pacific Ocean and the South China Sea, and is not part of the heated territorial dispute over islands in the South China Sea.
Japan has previously warned that any foreign naval vessels entering its claimed waters for any reason other than “innocent passage” would be instructed to depart by Japanese patrols.
Last week Japan expressed a strong vow to protect its territory following the passage of a Chinese naval vessel close to islands claimed by both countries.
Japan's defense ministry says a Chinese ship was spotted entering a protected zone northeast of Kuba island, part of the islands known as Senkaku in Japanese, and Diaoyu in China.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told reporters in Tokyo that Japan will protect the Senkaku islands “by any means," and criticized China for "unilaterally escalating tensions."
But a spokesman for China's defense ministry says it has every right to sail through those waters.
The uninhabited islands are claimed by China and Taiwan, but controlled by Tokyo.
The islands and rocks are in a strategically significant position in shipping lanes, as well as desirable fishing grounds and are near potential oil and gas reserves.
[voanews.com]
15/6/16
--
-
Related:
--
Japan Summons Chinese Ambassador Over Sea Spat
Japan deploys 12 coast guard ships to patrol Senkakus
Japan deploys ground force unit near islets disputed by China
China criticizes Japan high school textbooks
East China Sea: China urges Japan not to distort facts about Diaoyu Islands
China warns Japan against provocations on Diaoyu Islands
GR
FR
DE
ES
IT
RU
EU
A Chinese navy reconnaissance vessel entered Japanese territorial waters near Kuchinoerabu Island off Kagoshima Prefecture early Wednesday morning — the first time since 2004 that a Chinese military ship has done so...
ReplyDeleteWednesday’s incursion comes just under a week after a Chinese naval frigate entered the contiguous zone just outside Japan’s territorial waters near the disputed Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea....japantimes.co.jp