The aircraft carrier sailed through in the morning between the southern Japanese islands of Yonaguni and Iriomote in Okinawa Prefecture, temporarily entering the Japan contiguous zonethen headed towards the Pacific, the Japanese Defense Ministry said. There were no incursions into territorial waters or dangerous activities. – added.
The contiguous zone is the area extending 24 nautical miles from the coastline through which according to international law, foreign ships can pass throughbut the coastal states they can take the necessary measures in order to prevent illegal activities in their waters, reminds Japanese broadcaster NHK.
Japan. China in the contiguous zone. They sent an aircraft carrier
In late August, a Chinese military spy plane, the Y-9 flew into Japan's airspace for a few minutes over the waters of the East China Sea near the Danjo Archipelago in southwestern Nagasaki Prefecture.
Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Hiroshi Moriya said at a press briefing that Tokyo conveyed “serious concerns” to Beijing through diplomatic channelsdescribing the incident as “completely unacceptable from the perspective of the security environment of Japan and the region.”
“I would like to emphasize that China's actions are consistent with Chinese and international law” said Lin Jian, spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, in response to a question about Japan's protest.
The Chinese Navy's aircraft carrier at the head of the strike group was also reported by the Ministry of Defense in Taipei in the morning local time. The ministry said the Liaoning had passed through waters northeast of Taiwan and was continuing to sail southeast.
“The armed forces monitored the situation and responded accordingly.” – Taiwan's Defense Ministry said in a statement.
Taiwan Strait: Beijing's Quick Response
The day before, an American P-8A patrol plane flew over the Taiwan Strait. as part of a demonstration of US commitment to a “free and open Indo-Pacific” – the American army reported.
In response China sent fighter jets to monitor the American plane. Li Xi, a spokesman for the Chinese People's Liberation Army in the Eastern Theater, on Tuesday called the P-8A's overflight a “stunt” aimed at provoking China.
He added that the troops “are in constant readinessto resolutely defend sovereignty (and) peace and stability in the region.”