Chinese naval ships violate Japanese waters

(Baonghean.vn) - Japan's Ministry of Defense said on June 15 that a Chinese naval ship entered Japanese territorial waters in the area of ​​Kuchinoerabu Island, Southwest Japan.

Japan said a Chinese naval vessel violated its territorial waters on June 14. Photo: AFP

This is the second time since 2004 that a Chinese naval vessel has entered Japanese waters. In 2004, a Chinese Navy nuclear submarine entered Japanese waters off Ishigaki Island.

The Japanese Defense Ministry said a P-3C patrol plane detected the Chinese vessel entering at around 3:30 a.m. on June 15 and left Yakushima Island 90 minutes later.

Previously, there was no official announcement regarding the intrusion of Chinese ships.

China's representative, the Minister of Defense, said that the entry of Chinese naval vessels into Japanese territorial waters was completely in accordance with international law and the principles of freedom of navigation.

Currently, the Japanese Ministry of Defense is continuing to survey the area and investigate the purpose of the Chinese ship.

On June 9, a Chinese vessel was spotted in Japan's outer contiguous zone, near the Senkaku Islands.

Japan's Foreign Ministry has condemned the intrusion of Chinese ships into contiguous zones.

Under international law, military and civilian vessels are allowed to pass through the territorial waters of another country provided that they do not violate the order and safety of that country's maritime zones.

Thanh Hien

(According to Reuters, NHK)