News Increasing Chinese and Russian naval activity around Japan

[thomas]

The past few days have seen the increasing presence of Russian and Chinese warships around the Japanese archipelago. Last Thursday, a Russian naval group passed Cape Soya, Hokkaido 's northernmost tip, sailing south to the Izu Islands, which belong to Tokyo. It was the first time the Russian navy had " visited " the area since October 2021.



Also, last weekend, two Chinese missile destroyers sailed in the Sea of Japan after passing the Tsushima Strait off Kyushu and going through the Soya Strait into the Okhotsk Sea.



In October 2021, a joint Russian and Chinese naval group circumnavigated the entire Japanese archipelago.

Russian warships pass Izu Islands south of Tokyo

Seven Russian warships passed near the Izu Islands south of Tokyo this week, the Defense Ministry said Friday, as Japan is on alert over increasing military activity by Russia and China near its territory.

english.kyodonews.net

MSN

Russian warships pass Izu Islands south of Tokyo

Separately, nine Russian Navy ships were spotted north of Cape Soya, in the northernmost part of Hokkaido.

www.japantimes.co.jp

 

[Grandpa Frank]

Probably had North Korean subs following under them.

 

[johnnyG]

Frank--wouldn't the seas around japan be among the most-listened to in this hemisphere? And our side keeping it all as passively done as possible.

Locally, tho they lost an F-15 a couple months ago (somehow into the ocean just after takeoff), there are a number of F-35s here already. I'd guess some of those were out there flying around, maybe also a P-1 and/or P-3, depending on.

 

[Grandpa Frank]

Although it's kept pretty quiet , supposedly we can now track any sub deep under water by satellite. Sonar buoys probably out number fish now days to keep track of them. We have been using subs to park just off the coast of countries for listening activities since I was in during the early 70's. I get the feeling all countries do it.

 

[thomas]

A group of three PLAN (People's Liberation Army Navy) ships completed a near circuit of Japan on 29 June after they were sighted first in the Tsushima Strait on 12 June.

People's Liberation Army Navy Ships Complete Circle Around Japan - USNI News

A People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) surface group entered the East China Sea on Wednesday, according to a Thursday Japan Defense Ministry release. The surface group completed a near circuit of Japan since they were sighted in the Tsushima Strait on June 12. On Wednesday at 11 p.m., three PLAN...

news.usni.org

 

[johnnyG]

Of those five ships, the first and last look really close (near identical), the second and fourth also similar but perhaps not as close.

 

[thomas]

Of those five ships, the first and last look really close (near identical), the second and fourth also similar but perhaps not as close.

Same class, perhaps?

What's impressive is that they have also circumnavigated all outlying islands. What if the JMSDF did the same drill along the Chinese coast?

 

[mdchachi]

What the naval equivalent for 散歩? That's all they were doing I'm sure.

 

[thomas]

Bizarre: today, a Chinese frigate chased a Russian frigate out of the so-called contiguous zone of the contested Senkaku Islands controlled by Japan. The Russian vessel stayed in the waters for about an hour, apparently to avoid a typhoon while the Chinese ship was trying to demonstrate its territorial claim. According to Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Kihara Seiji, Japan lodged a protest with Beijing and "will continue to respond firmly but in a calm manner."

What a naval kindergarten.

Chinese warship chases Russian frigate near Japan-controlled Senkakus

By making it appear as if it were patrolling around its own territory, China was likely trying to demonstrate its territorial claim to the Senkakus, according to a Defense Ministry official.

www.japantimes.co.jp

 

[thomas]

And the Tour de Japon goes on: three Russian ships that sailed through the Senkaku islands Monday were sighted transiting the Tsushima Strait into the Sea of Japan on Tuesday night, with two of the ships completing a voyage around Japan that began 15 June. Meanwhile, a Russian intelligence ship was sighted operating in the contiguous zone of Okinotori Island in the Philippine Sea on Wednesday.

Russian Ships Spotted Transiting Tsushima Strait, Continue to Circle Japan - USNI News

Three Russian ships that sailed through the Senkaku islands Monday were sighted transiting the Tsushima Strait into the Sea of Japan on Tuesday night, with two of the ships completing a voyage around Japan that began June 15. Meanwhile, a Russian intelligence ship was sighted operating in the...

news.usni.org

 

[thomas]

More posturing in the north of Japan: the Japanese government protested joint military exercises conducted by Russia, China, and, seemingly, other nations (the photo below shows contingents from Belarus and Ivory Coast).

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said Japan's Defense Ministry spotted six Russian and Chinese warships firing machine guns into the Sea of Japan about 190 kilometers west of Cape Kamui on Hokkaido on Saturday. [...] China's Ministry of National Defense said in a statement Sunday that China participated in air, ground and naval exercises as part of the exercises. It said a Chinese naval tactical team conducted joint exercises with Russia in the Sea of Japan, including one designed to destroy drifting mines.

Japan protests to Russia over military exercises with China | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis

Japan protests Russia's military exercise at disputed isles

Japan has lodged a protest with Russia over a military exercise on two Moscow-controlled, Tokyo-claimed islands off Hokkaido, Japan's top government spokesman says

english.kyodonews.net

In related news, Russia has also been increasing its inspections of Japanese kelp trawlers.

Russia inspecting more Japanese kelp fishing boats in retaliation for Ukraine sanctions

Russian border security officials made 195 inspections of boats off the Habomai group of islets, off Hokkaido in northern Japan, in June and July.

www.japantimes.co.jp