A Chinese aircraft carrier entered an area near Japan’s shores for the first time on Wednesday, leading Tokyo to convey its “serious concerns” to Beijing over China’s increasingly assertive military actions around Japan, officials said.
The Chinese carrier Liaoning, accompanied by two destroyers, sailed between Japan’s westernmost island of Yonaguni and nearby Iriomote, entering the country's co-called “contiguous zone,” the Defense Ministry said.
That's an area of sea beyond a country's territorial waters in which it can still exercise some control over maritime traffic, reaching up to 24 nautical miles offshore.
The Liaoning's transit was part of a fleet movement Tuesday and Wednesday, during which Chinese warships also passed off the western coast of the disputed Japanese-controlled islets it calls the Senkakus, the ministry said.
China claims the same islets, calling them the Diaoyus.
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@XfactorSnailVeteran2yrs2Y
Guarantee this carrier is being tracked by at least one US sub abd other assets. If China thinks it can instill fear into Japan it is sadly mistaken. Japans navy is one of the best in the world and it backed by several other countries including but not limited to the USA.
@ExactingPragmaticGreen2yrs2Y
No. Japan is trying to start a war. China was not in their territorial waters. China has a legal right to go to open ocean. Not so long ago Japan made a far worse violation and ended up in Chinese territorial waters and Japan admits it. In that case there is no innocent passage interpretation because the only place Japan can go to is China. As Unclos stated China has a right to go to open ocean and if they have to pass through territorial. Waters. They are allowed to. The fact the article said 26 miles. China has been respectful. Territorial waters is 12 and contiguous is 24. Not 26 as stated in the article.
All the CCP/Xi have gained from all their bullying of their neighbors is the following:
Their neighbors are now spending billions on weapons like never before.
Their neighbors are making defense agreements with the US and their Pacific Neighbors creating a "Pacific NATO".
Nations no longer trust China and are looking for other partners for the products they currently import from China. A
loss of respect for China as a legit World citizen.
@BagelsBennyDemocrat2yrs2Y
I have been waiting to see Japan go full tilt. Historically, they seem like the greatest fighters in the world, fearless in the face of death. I wonder if it's still true. China might find out.
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