Due to NATO 's aggressive attempts to further compress Russia's geosecurity, the Russian-Ukrainian conflict broke out in Eastern Europe at the beginning of this year. Since the conflict broke out, Russia has also realized that it cannot integrate into the Western circle at all, so it has shifted its strategic focus to the East.
The conflict between Russia and Ukraine has changed Russia's strategic focus. Coupled with the already good relationship between China and Russia, the exchanges between the two countries' militaries have become increasingly closer. According to Japanese media reports on the 4th, Japanese Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Seiji Kihara said that a Chinese naval ship sailed into the contiguous zone near the Diaoyu Islands that morning. At the same time, Russian Navy ships were also sailing nearby.
It is reported that the Chinese Navy frigate No. 566 sailed into the contiguous zone of the Diaoyu Islands around 7:44 that day, and left to the outside 6 minutes later. The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force frigate "Abu Kuma" performed a surveillance mission. There is also a Russian frigate nearby. This is the first time in six years that Chinese and Russian warships have appeared in the waters at the same time. The last time was in June 2016.
Subsequently, Japan protested against China. In response, Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Zhao Lijian said that the Chinese navy's activities in the waters near the Diaoyu Islands are legitimate and legal. In recent years, Japan has been coveting China's Diaoyu Islands and always wants to take them as its own. The Chinese Coast Guard often patrols the waters near the Diaoyu Islands. The Diaoyu Islands and their affiliated islands are China’s inherent territory. The activities of Chinese ships in nearby waters are legitimate and legal, and Japan has no right to make irresponsible remarks.
China has repeatedly emphasized that Diaoyu Island and its affiliated islands are China’s inherent territory. Japan illegally occupied the Diaoyu Islands after the Sino-Japanese War of 1895. After Japan's defeat in World War II, according to the "Cairo Declaration" and "Potsdam Proclamation", Japan only has sovereignty over Honshu, Hokkaido, , Kyushu, Shikoku and islands designated by the allies, and the Diaoyu Islands should be returned to China as a matter of course. . However, Japan has refused to give up for a long time and has repeatedly hyped up the Diaoyu Islands issue.
Since you won’t listen, you can only take practical actions. In recent times, the Chinese navy has repeatedly passed through international waters near the Japanese mainland. Not long ago, the Chinese Navy's "Lhasa Ship" formation also sailed around the sun. These ocean-going training exercises by the Chinese Navy have left Japan struggling to cope. In addition, the Russian navy moved south from near Hokkaido to the waters around the Izu Islands in June, and entered the East China Sea on July 1. On July 4, Russian warships appeared in the waters adjacent to the Diaoyu Islands.
The appearance of Chinese warships in the waters near the Diaoyu Islands also sent a message to Japan that the Chinese navy can use different combat ships to form a lasting deterrent to Japan in nearly a month. Because the warships operating in the waters near the Diaoyu Islands this time are not the "Lhasa Ship" formation that has gone to sea before.
It can be seen that there is already a gap in the maritime military strength between China and Japan. When Japan is provoking China, it can only send individual ships to patrol the South China Sea or Taiwan Strait area twice. When facing Chinese warships going to sea, it can only monitor them from a distance. Moreover, China sent directly a naval formation to sail around the sun. Currently, China has six Type 055 destroyers in service. It is expected that all eight Type 055 destroyers will be in service by the end of this year, and there may be subsequent construction plans. Not long ago, China's third aircraft carrier "Fujian Ship" was also officially launched. It has begun sea trials and is expected to be delivered to the Chinese Navy in 2024.
China’s rise is by no means a challenge to the existing international order as the West calls it. Rather, it conforms to the trend of the times and aims to achieve the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. As for Japan’s protest against the normal navigation of the Chinese Navy, to borrow what the spokesperson of the Ministry of National Defense, Colonel Wu Qian, said many years ago, Japan’s protest against the Chinese Navy’s training in waters near Japan is mainly because its mentality has not been adjusted properly. The Chinese Navy should go there more often. Once Japan gets used to it, it will be fine.
