Japanese Destroyer's Unnotified Entry Into Chinese Waters Sparks Diplomatic Tensions

A Japanese navy destroyer, Suzutsuki, entered China's territorial waters near Taiwan without prior notification, leading to an official complaint from Beijing. The ship sailed within 12 nautical miles of China's Zhejiang coast for 20 minutes, triggering serious concerns from China. Japan claims the entry was due to a technical error and is investigating the incident.

A Japanese navy destroyer made a rare entry into China's territorial waters near Taiwan earlier this month without notifying China, prompting Beijing to lodge an official complaint.

According to Kyodo news agency, the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force's destroyer Suzutsuki sailed into China's waters off Zhejiang province on July 4, where China had scheduled naval drills. Suzutsuki entered the waters without notification while monitoring Chinese missile exercises in the East China Sea north of Taiwan, NTV reported, citing sources from Japan's defence ministry.

The destroyer navigated within 12 nautical miles (22 km) of Zhejiang's coast for approximately 20 minutes, despite warnings from Chinese vessels, leading Beijing to express 'serious concerns' to Tokyo. Japan's defence ministry has launched an investigation, questioning Suzutsuki's captain, and the crew's intentions remain unclear, Kyodo said.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian informed during a news briefing on Thursday that China lodged representations to Japan over the 'illegal and improper actions' of the Japanese ship. Japan responded that the entry was a technical error, Jian mentioned.

Past incidents include China's coast guard and naval vessels entering Japan's territorial waters, with notable events in June last year and December, where China accused a U.S. Navy ship of illegal entry in disputed South China Sea waters.