News Japan navy destroyer enters Chinese waters near Taiwan

[thomas]

Is it a technical mistake, or is the JSDF getting more brazen?

A Japanese navy destroyer, Suzutsuki, entered China's territorial waters near Taiwan on July 4 without notifying China, leading to an official complaint from Beijing. The destroyer was monitoring Chinese missile exercises in the East China Sea and sailed within 12 nautical miles of Zhejiang province for about 20 minutes despite warnings from Chinese vessels. Japan's defence ministry is investigating the incident, and the crew's intentions remain unclear. China has lodged representations regarding the "illegal and improper actions," while Japan explained it as a technical error.

JS Suzutsuki (すずつき) - WikiCommons​

A Chinese security expert, however, has cast doubt on Tokyo's unofficial view that the MSDF destroyer might have entered the Chinese waters by mistake, citing the Japanese crew's skill levels. The UN Convention on the Law of the Sea recognises the right to "innocent passage," allowing for a vessel to pass through the territorial waters of another state unless it compromises the safety of the coastal state. [...] Tokyo maintains that Suzutsuki's entry into Chinese territorial waters was not illegal, citing the right to innocent passage. But Beijing argues the MSDF ship did not fulfil its requirements under Chinese domestic law that foreign vessels seek its prior permission to enter its waters, the Chinese sources said. Jun Tsuruta, an associate professor of international law at Meiji Gakuin University in Tokyo, said there has been a debate about whether the right to innocent passage can be granted to military vessels as well as commercial ships and that the issue has not been completely settled based on UNCLOS adopted in 1982.

China regularly sends its military and coastguard vessels into Japanese territorial waters near the Senkaku Islands. Perhaps the captain decided to let them have a taste of their own medicine.


Japan navy destroyer enters Chinese waters near Taiwan, prompting Beijing complaint

Japan investigates captain after warship makes rare entry into China’s waters

The Suzutsuki, tasked with monitoring Chinese military drills on the high seas, sailed into waters off Zhejiang province last week.

www.scmp.com