Chinese warships are operating too close for comfort off Japan's shores, according to reports. Japan has expressed significant concern after a Chinese navy destroyer conducted live-fire drills off the remote Japanese island of Okinotori in the Pacific Ocean. This incident occurred on a Sunday during a joint exercise with Russia, with Japanese officials making the concerns public on Tuesday.
The Chinese Luyang III-class guided-missile destroyer executed a live-fire exercise off Japan’s southernmost island of Okinotori. This was hours after the Japanese navy detected its operation alongside two other Chinese warships and a Russian frigate. This marks the first time Tokyo has publicly reported and confirmed a live-fire drill by the Chinese military within Japan's exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara stated on Tuesday that the Japanese government has conveyed its concerns, highlighting that these live-fire drills pose a safety risk. Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi also announced the drills, noting that Russian warships observed the exercise, signaling growing defense ties between Beijing and Moscow. Koizumi made these remarks during a speech at the Farnborough International Airshow in Farnborough, England.
