Japan’s Kyodo News exclusively revealed on the 10th that the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force frigate (patrol vessel) “Suzutsuki” accidentally entered Chinese territorial waters off the coast of Zhejiang Province in early July last year, and the Chinese side fired at least two shells as warning shots. The shells did not hit the vessel, so no damage was caused.
The report pointed out that multiple sources familiar with Japan-China relations disclosed this information on the 10th. It was later discovered that the “Suzutsuki” was using an electronic chart system whose function to display the boundaries between international waters and other countries’ territorial waters had not been switched on, resulting in an operational oversight that caused the crew not to notice the entry into Chinese territorial waters. Since it is extremely rare for China to issue warning shots at foreign vessels, this incident showed that the situation was at one point on the brink of a dangerous standoff.
According to sources, in the early morning of July 4 last year, the “Suzutsuki” sailed to waters off the coast of Zhejiang to monitor Chinese military exercises on the high seas. Upon discovering that “Suzutsuki” was heading toward Chinese territorial waters, the Chinese side repeatedly requested it to change course. When the vessel was about to enter Chinese territorial waters, the Chinese side first fired one warning shell, and fired another after it intruded, urging it to leave.
However, because the electronic chart on the “Suzutsuki” did not show the boundaries of Chinese territorial waters, the crew did not realize they had crossed the line and, even while under warning fire, continued to sail within Chinese territorial waters for about 20 minutes.
The incident drew a protest from China at the time, and it is reported that Japan informally notified China that it was caused by a technical malfunction, and the captain involved was relieved of duty. However, because it concerns Self-Defense Force operations, the Japanese government has not yet made the results of the relevant investigation public.