The Japanese Ministry of Defence announced that a Chinese PLA Navy survey ship briefly intruded into Japanese territorial waters off Kagoshima Prefecture on the morning of 31 August. In relation to the Chinese military, an intelligence-gathering aircraft also intruded into Japanese airspace over Nagasaki Prefecture on 26th of this month, and the Ministry of Defence has protested to China through diplomatic channels, while continuing to maintain vigilance and surveillance.
According to the Ministry of Defence, just before 5am on 31 March, the Maritime Self-Defence Force (MSDF) confirmed that a Chinese navy survey ship was navigating eastwards through Japan’s adjacent waters west of Kuchino-erabu Island in Kagoshima Prefecture.
The survey ship then entered Japan’s territorial waters southwest of Kuchinoerabu Island at around 6am, and approximately one hour and 50 minutes later, at around 7:53am, it left the territorial waters and headed south.
This is the tenth time since last September that a Chinese navy survey vessel has sailed into Japanese territorial waters, and the 13th time if submarines and intelligence-gathering vessels are included.
The right of innocent passage is recognised under international law, which allows naval vessels of various countries to pass through territorial waters as long as they do not harm the order and safety of the coastal state, just as ordinary ships do.
According to a Defence Ministry official, the Chinese military may be collecting this information for use in submarine operations.
On 26 August, an intelligence-gathering aircraft flew into Japanese airspace off the Male and Female Islands in Goto City, Nagasaki Prefecture, the first confirmed airspace violation by a Chinese military aircraft.
The Ministry of Defence said: ‘It is difficult to say with certainty about the intentions and objectives of the Chinese aircraft, including whether they are related to the Chinese aircraft that violated Japan’s airspace, but China has been increasing its military activities around Japan in recent years, and the series of flights in its territorial waters are believed to be part of that. We are watching these activities with strong concern.
The Ministry of Defence has protested to the Chinese Government through diplomatic channels and is continuing its vigilance and monitoring.
The Director-General of the Asia and Pacific Affairs Bureau at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), expressed his strong concern and protested to Mr Shi Ying, Minister at the Chinese Embassy, about this incident following the airspace violation by a Chinese military aircraft on 26 June.
In response, Minister Shi Ying explained the Chinese side’s position.
2 Comments
The Japanese Ministry of Defence announced that a Chinese PLA Navy survey ship briefly intruded into Japanese territorial waters off Kagoshima Prefecture on the morning of 31 August. In relation to the Chinese military, an intelligence-gathering aircraft also intruded into Japanese airspace over Nagasaki Prefecture on 26th of this month, and the Ministry of Defence has protested to China through diplomatic channels, while continuing to maintain vigilance and surveillance.
According to the Ministry of Defence, just before 5am on 31 March, the Maritime Self-Defence Force (MSDF) confirmed that a Chinese navy survey ship was navigating eastwards through Japan’s adjacent waters west of Kuchino-erabu Island in Kagoshima Prefecture.
The survey ship then entered Japan’s territorial waters southwest of Kuchinoerabu Island at around 6am, and approximately one hour and 50 minutes later, at around 7:53am, it left the territorial waters and headed south.
This is the tenth time since last September that a Chinese navy survey vessel has sailed into Japanese territorial waters, and the 13th time if submarines and intelligence-gathering vessels are included.
The right of innocent passage is recognised under international law, which allows naval vessels of various countries to pass through territorial waters as long as they do not harm the order and safety of the coastal state, just as ordinary ships do.
According to a Defence Ministry official, the Chinese military may be collecting this information for use in submarine operations.
On 26 August, an intelligence-gathering aircraft flew into Japanese airspace off the Male and Female Islands in Goto City, Nagasaki Prefecture, the first confirmed airspace violation by a Chinese military aircraft.
The Ministry of Defence said: ‘It is difficult to say with certainty about the intentions and objectives of the Chinese aircraft, including whether they are related to the Chinese aircraft that violated Japan’s airspace, but China has been increasing its military activities around Japan in recent years, and the series of flights in its territorial waters are believed to be part of that. We are watching these activities with strong concern.
The Ministry of Defence has protested to the Chinese Government through diplomatic channels and is continuing its vigilance and monitoring.
The Director-General of the Asia and Pacific Affairs Bureau at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), expressed his strong concern and protested to Mr Shi Ying, Minister at the Chinese Embassy, about this incident following the airspace violation by a Chinese military aircraft on 26 June.
In response, Minister Shi Ying explained the Chinese side’s position.
[https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2024/07/28ac44dc7400-japan-destroyer-sailed-into-china-territorial-waters-despite-warnings.html](https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2024/07/28ac44dc7400-japan-destroyer-sailed-into-china-territorial-waters-despite-warnings.html)
Twice to once, kinda unfair.