what? It turns out that the Chinese frigate that entered the Diaoyu Islands contiguous zone was monitoring Russian warships? This explanation by the Japanese Ministry of Defense is really "full of new ideas."
A Chinese frigate photographed by the Japanese Self-Defense Force was sailing in the area adjacent to the Diaoyu Islands
According to a report from the Japanese Ministry of Defense, three Russian navy frigates passed through the waters near the Diaoyu Islands, and one of them was adjacent to the Diaoyu Islands between 7:05 and 8:16 a.m. on the 4th. Sailing within the area, the other two ships operating together did not sail into the contiguous area . The Chinese Navy's frigate entered the contiguous zone at around 7:44 and left to the outside 6 minutes later. Maritime Self-Defense Force frigate "Abu Kuma" performed the surveillance mission.
It is said that the last time Chinese and Russian warships sailed in the contiguous zone at almost the same time was in June 2016.
Schematic diagram of the track of the Chinese naval fleet around Japan in June
Previously, the U.S. Naval Institute website reported that in response to the actions of the Chinese and Russian naval fleets that circled the Japanese archipelago in June, the Japanese side was speculating whether it was a "China-Russia warship formation". The Navy has reached a tacit understanding."
Nowadays, the Chinese and Russian navies have once again made "synchronous" actions, and they are in the waters of the Diaoyu Islands, which Japan is extremely concerned about. It is easy for Japan to think that "this is a joint action between China and Russia."
Old driver noticed that after the initial panic passed, Japan repeatedly tried to distinguish the behavior of Chinese and Russian naval vessels.
Japan’s Kyodo News Agency stated late at night on the 4th that in response to the “Chinese and Russian warships entering the adjacent area of the Diaoyu Islands on the same day”, the Ministry of Defense gave completely different responses to China and Russia – it “expressed great concern but did not protest” against the Russian side. ; to the Chinese side, he expressed serious concerns and protested by phone, "demanding to prevent similar situations from happening again."
Of course, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian gave a straightforward rebuttal at the press conference: "Diaoyu Islands are China's inherent territory, and Japan has no right to make irresponsible remarks."
The report also emphasized that since Russia does not claim It has sovereignty over the Diaoyu Islands, and "Russian naval ships usually pass through the waters near the Diaoyu Islands, and this time they may have entered the contiguous zone while traveling north."
While China claims sovereignty over the Diaoyu Islands, China Coast Guard ships sailing into the waters near the Diaoyu Islands have become normal. Kyodo News said that this action may also be intended to demonstrate its claims to countries other than Japan. An official from the Ministry of Defense said: "This is an act that unilaterally escalates tensions and is a situation that should be of serious concern." At the same time, the Ministry of Defense only released photos of Chinese warships.
Defense Ministry officials later argued that the Chinese naval frigate followed the Russian warship into the contiguous zone about 40 minutes after the Russian frigate entered the Diaoyu Islands contiguous zone. "It is analyzed that the Russian warship sailed near the Diaoyu Islands to avoid Typhoon No. 4 passing through Okinawa. The Ministry of Defense believes that the Chinese warship may have moved and conducted surveillance in response to the Russian warship."
What? It turns out that the Chinese frigate that entered the area adjacent to the Diaoyu Islands was monitoring Russian warships? This explanation from the Ministry of Defense is really full of novelty. If this is the case, then why is the Ministry of Defense so nervous about the actions of Chinese warships?
Diaoyu Island information map
In fact, discerning people have long seen Japan’s panic and untenability. Tian Shichen, founder of the Jingshi Think Tank and director of the International Military Operations Law Research Center, told a reporter from the " Global Times " on the 4th that the contiguous zone overlaps with the exclusive economic zone, and the freedom of navigation on the high seas applies to navigation rights by analogy, that is, in any coastal country's In the contiguous zone, foreign warships have freedom of navigation. They only need to abide by the domestic laws enacted by the applicable coastal state to implement international law . Therefore, China and Russia both have freedom of navigation in the contiguous zone near the Diaoyu Islands, but the basis for both sides is different.Chinese warships are sailing in the contiguous zone where they enjoy sovereign rights and jurisdiction, while Russia enjoys the right of free navigation conferred by international law in the contiguous zone of any country.
Military expert Song Zhongping told the Global Times reporter that Russia’s series of actions around Japan are to warn against Japan’s sanctions on Russia, and are also intended to alleviate the pressure that Western countries have placed on themselves in the Russia-Ukraine military conflict. The pressure brought by the war, especially the pressure from Japan, "Whether warships and aircraft are detouring around the Japanese archipelago or entering the contiguous zone of the Diaoyu Islands, it shows Russia's clear position and warns Japan not to act rashly."
