A Chinese research vessel has entered Japanese territorial waters near the Osumi Islands, Japan's Defense Ministry said Saturday. The Tokyo government has filed a formal protest with Beijing. Japanese media have emphasized that this was the second violation this week.
The Chinese research vessel was detected early this morning local time in Japanese territorial waters west of Kuchinoerabu Island. It left those waters less than two hours later near Yakushima Island, the Japanese ministry said.
Self-Defense Forces Japanas the Japanese military is formally known, sent a minesweeper and patrol planes to monitor the Chinese vessel's movements, it added.
It was the 10th incursion by a Chinese research vessel into Japanese waters near the islands of Kagoshima Prefecture since November 2021, Kyodo reported. It said such vessels are often used for bathymetric surveys for underwater navigation purposes.
China's Military Activity
The Japanese news agency recalled that on Monday, for the first time, a violation of Japanese airspace over the East China Sea by a military aircraft was confirmed. Chin. According to the authorities in Tokyo, it was a spy machine.
In recent years, the Japanese government has repeatedly expressed concern about China's growing military activity in nearby seas. In response to those concerns, Tokyo announced plans last year for the largest military buildup since the end of World War II.
Main image source: EPA/FRANCK ROBICHON