At the press conference of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on July 4, in response to a reporter's question, Japan lodged "negotiations" with China to protest against the Chinese Navy's frigate sailing into the waters near the Diaoyu Islands. Our spokesperson Zhao Liqian emphasized that Diaoyu Island and its affiliated islands are China’s inherent territory. The activities of Chinese ships in nearby waters are legitimate and lawful, and Japan has no right to make irresponsible remarks.
saw the response from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in emphasizing that the activities of Chinese ships on the Diaoyu Islands were legal. I can’t help but think that four years ago, the author had the honor to participate in the online celebrity re-walking the Long March organized by the army and experience the event in the military camp.
At that time, we arrived at a military port on the coast and boarded a navy frigate for a visit. While communicating with the officers and soldiers on the ship, we heard about our navy's deeds in safeguarding national sovereignty on the Diaoyu Islands. We were very proud and excited.
According to our navy, the Sea of Japan often sees itself as a navy, not a self-defense force. When warships meet at sea, they often call themselves " Japanese Navy ", which we will never admit. When our navy encountered this situation, we always refused to respond. It was not until the Japanese changed their name to "Self-Defense Forces" that we responded.
In recent years, the rapid progress of the Chinese navy has made Japan restless. For example, as one of the most powerful surface battleships in the world, the Type 055 large guided missile destroyer can be said to attract enough attention wherever it goes. Recently, the Integrated Staff Supervision Department of the Ministry of Defense of Japan has continuously released news about the Type 055 guided missile destroyer Lhasa's voyage around Japan. The Lhasa has now left the waters near the Ryukyu Islands and returned to the East China Sea.
Since the Lhasa ship passed through the Tsushima Strait three weeks ago, the Lhasa ship on its first voyage crossed the Sea of Japan, passing the Japanese archipelago the northernmost Soya Strait and the Izu Islands close to the Japanese mainland. and the southernmost Ryukyu Islands, achieving the feat of sailing around Japan.
However, this time the "royal photographer" was not very dedicated. This voyage also allowed the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force , dubbed the "Queen Photographer" by Chinese netizens, to take many photos of the Lhasa ship. The Japanese took photos of the Lhasa ship from almost every angle. The only regret is that the Sea of Japan has always been photographed from a safe distance, which makes the clarity of the photos hard to compliment.
This time, Kyodo News Agency of Japan reported that a frigate of the Chinese Navy, the Type 053H3 guided missile frigate 566 Huaihua, sailed into the waters near the Diaoyu Islands at 7:50 in the morning on April 4. The Japanese government expressed serious concern and lodged a protest.
In response, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian responded: Diaoyu Island and its affiliated islands are undoubtedly China’s inherent territory. The activities of Chinese warships in the waters near the Diaoyu Islands are legitimate and legal, and Japan has no right to make irresponsible remarks.
The Chinese navy is cruising in its own waters, and Japan has no right to complain. Beginning in 2013, China's maritime forces began to patrol the Diaoyu Islands, and by 2015 they had visited the Diaoyu Islands more than a hundred times. Now they have become normalized, almost every day. Japan's attitude also went from surprise at the beginning, to fierce confrontation, and finally to helplessness and slowly getting used to it.
Japan has also experienced the process from shock to habituation to the Chinese Navy's patrol of the Diaoyu Islands, and finally just verbal chatter. We in China should give them time to adapt to this new normal.
The United States and Japan are not willing to be left alone. Since last year, they have decided to hold large-scale joint military exercises to defend the Diaoyu Islands. Many domestic experts regard this incident as a serious suppression and threat from the United States and Japan to China. It seems that it has seriously damaged China's interests and will definitely be counterattacked by us. The war is about to break out. There is no need to be so nervous.
Let’s think about it from another angle. The U.S. and Japanese exercises on the Diaoyu Islands actually reflect the great progress of the Chinese navy and air force in the past decade or so, from focusing on coastal defense to operating in distant seas. From the yellow water navy, to the blue water navy galloping in all oceans around the world. The scope of activities of the Chinese Air Force also extends from land to distant seas, and the use of force has developed from a single platform to a built system.
At present, the Chinese navy and air force have launched the first island chain , spanning multiple straits and pointing at the Western Pacific. The tracks of fighter planes and warships continue to extend, and the system capabilities are getting stronger and stronger. In safeguarding rights on the Diaoyu Islands, managing and controlling the East China Sea Air Defense Identification Zone, and conducting regular combat patrols in the far seas, our navy and air force have unswervingly safeguarded national sovereignty, safeguarded national security, and ensured peaceful development.
Recall that twenty or thirty years ago, Japan actually controlled the Diaoyu Islands, and the U.S. Navy also used the waters of the Diaoyu Islands as a training range. The U.S. and Japanese naval and air forces conducted regular exercises on the Diaoyu Islands without bothering to announce them to the public. Now, when the United States and Japan hold an exercise in the waters off the Diaoyu Islands, they have to announce it several months in advance to explore the way and see which way the wind is blowing. This seriously shows that the military psychological bottom line of the United States and Japan is falling sharply. This shows that the power of China's navy and air force has been able to extend to distant sea areas such as the Diaoyu Islands.
Starting in 2016, with the support of the Chinese navy, air force and coast guard ships, more than 230 Chinese fishing boats entered the territorial waters of the Diaoyu Islands for fishing operations together for the first time. Since then, real Diaoyu Island seafood has been available in our country’s market. The Japanese were very upset about this. They protested six times in three days and felt sorry for them.
