The Japanese Ministry of Defense reported that a Chinese Navy destroyer conducted a live-fire exercise early Sunday morning (July 19) in waters southwest of Japan’s Okinotorishima (referred to by China as Okinotori Reef), with Russian naval vessels accompanying the operation. This is the first time Japan has reported a Chinese warship conducting a live-fire drill in its Exclusive Economic Zone.
The Joint Staff of the Japanese Ministry of Defense issued a statement on its official website on Tuesday (July 21) stating that around 2 am on the 19th, the Maritime Self-Defense Force discovered four Chinese and Russian vessels navigating northeast approximately 330 kilometers southwest of Okinotorishima.
These four vessels include: a Chinese Type 055 (NATO codename Renhai-class) guided missile destroyer, a Type 052D (NATO codename Luyang III-class) guided missile destroyer, a Type 903 (NATO codename Fuchi-class) comprehensive supply ship, and a Russian Steregushchiy-class frigate.
The statement pointed out that the Japanese Ministry of Defense subsequently confirmed that the Type 052D guided missile destroyer conducted live-fire drills about 180 kilometers southwest of Okinotorishima.
A spokesperson for the Joint Staff said this was the first time Japan had confirmed and publicly reported that China was conducting live-fire exercises within Japan’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ); however, he added that the activity did not violate international rules.
Nevertheless, citing potential danger to the safety of surrounding maritime traffic, Japan raised the issue with China through diplomatic channels. There have been no confirmed vessel damages so far.
The Japanese Ministry of Defense’s statement also noted that these four warships are the same formation that sailed through the waters between Okinawa’s main island and Miyako Island on July 16 and proceeded into the Pacific. The Ministry believes this may be part of the Sino-Russian “joint maritime patrols” in the Pacific announced earlier by China.
The Ministry of Defense emphasized that it has deployed destroyers for continuous monitoring of these ships and has collected relevant intelligence.
China has consistently not recognized the waters around Okinotorishima as part of Japan’s EEZ and emphasizes that Okinotorishima is geographically a “reef” rather than an “island.”
Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi stated in a speech in the UK on Monday: “Chinese and Russian naval vessels conducted actual combat exercises in Japan’s EEZ.” He said China and Russia “are strengthening their military cooperation.”