A Chinese Navy destroyer (left) and a Russian Navy frigate during a live-fire exercise. (Courtesy of the Joint Staff Office, Japan Ministry of Defense)
Tokyo has confirmed that a Chinese destroyer conducted a live-fire exercise near Okinotori Island, marking an unprecedented incident inside Japan's exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi revealed on July 20 that Chinese and Russian naval vessels had conducted live-fire drills inside Japan's EEZ over the weekend. He made the announcement during a keynote speech at the Farnborough International Airshow in southern England.
According to multiple sources, the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force confirmed that four Chinese and Russian naval vessels were navigating waters southwest of Okinotori Island at around 2:00 AM on July 19. One of the Chinese guided-missile destroyers is reported to have carried out a live-fire exercise. No damage to any vessels has been reported.
It is highly unusual for the Chinese navy to conduct a live-fire exercise inside Japan's EEZ.
Beijing and Moscow Deepen Military Ties
In his speech, Koizumi also pointed to a Chinese submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) test and joint China-Russia bomber patrols near Japan as further evidence that the two countries are deepening their military cooperation.
He argued that security in the Indo-Pacific and the Euro-Atlantic cannot be treated separately, adding that Japan has an important role to play in linking the security of the two regions.
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(Read the article in Japanese.)
Author: Kyodo via Sankei
