Statement on warships from China and other nations sailing through the contiguous zone around the Senkaku Islands

On June 9, DP Next Minister for Foreign Affairs Akihisa Nagashima and Next Minister of Defence Atsushi Oshima released the following statement.

From the night of June 8 until the early hours of June 9, naval vessels from Russia and the Republic of China passed successively through the contiguous zone around the Senkaku Islands.  It is a matter of grave concern that warships have passed through the contiguous zone around the Senkaku Islands, which are an inherent part of Japanese territory.

In particular, though even the public record shows that Chinese government vessels have engaged in repeated intrusions into Japan’s territorial waters and persistent entrances into the contiguous zone since 2008, this is the first time that China has permitted one of its warships to intrude into the contiguous zone.  We must acknowledge that our national security environment has entered a new stage.  Japan must issue a strong protest to the Chinese government, as well as ensuring that our nation’s territorial security, particularly with regard to the Senkaku Islands, is properly established.

We urge the Japanese government to continue to make efforts in warning and surveillance, as well as doing everything possible to avoid unforeseen contingencies, by liaising closely with other concerned nations.