Japan said Tuesday a Chinese Luyang III destroyer carried out live-fire drills Sunday 180 kilometers southwest of Okinotori, within Japan’s claimed EEZ, hours after operating with two Chinese warships and a Russian frigate.
Minoru Kihara said Tokyo conveyed safety concerns because the drill could threaten nearby vessels, though the Chinese ships issued a warning shortly before firing and Japan said the action did not violate international law.
Shinjiro Koizumi linked the episode to deepening China-Russia military cooperation, citing at least 10 joint bomber flights around Japan and China’s recent submarine-launched ballistic missile test.
Beijing rejected the protest as groundless and disputed any Japanese EEZ around Okinotori, arguing the feature is a rock rather than an island.
The disclosure marks the first time Japan has publicly reported Chinese live-fire activity in its EEZ, underscoring Tokyo’s broader alarm over China’s expanding Pacific operations.