China's use of live rounds during a joint exercise with Russia off Japan's southernmost island of Okinotori has sparked concerns for safety and military cooperation in the region. The Chinese Luyang III-class guided-missile destroyer conducted the live-fire exercise on Sunday, just hours after it was spotted operating alongside two other Chinese warships and a Russian frigate. Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara expressed concerns that the drills posed a potential safety threat to nearby vessels, despite China claiming it was within its territorial waters.
The incident highlights the growing military cooperation between China and Russia, which has raised concerns in Japan and beyond. According to reports, this is not the first time China and Russia have conducted joint military operations in the region, with at least 10 joint flights conducted by Chinese and Russian bombers around Japan in recent years. Japan has been alarmed by China's rapid expansion of operations in the Pacific, particularly since two Chinese aircraft carriers were spotted operating near another southern Japanese island last year.
China disputes Japan's claim of an EEZ around the Okinotori island, saying it's an atoll not an island. Japan's Joint Staff said it was the first time it disclosed the detection of Chinese live-fire drills in the Japanese EEZ, though the action did not violate international law. The incident has sparked calls for greater vigilance in the region, with Japan's Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi expressing concerns about the deepening military cooperation between China and Russia.
The incident has implications for global security, with many nations monitoring the situation closely. The UK Foreign Office advises British nationals to exercise caution when travelling to Japan, particularly in the Okinotori region. The incident has also sparked concerns about the potential for miscalculations in the region, which could have far-reaching consequences for global stability.
Japan is continuing to monitor the situation closely, with the Japanese Joint Staff saying it will continue to watch China-Russia operations around Japan with concern. The UK Government has not made any official comment on the incident, but it is likely to be closely following developments in the region.