Three Chinese naval vessels were confirmed to have navigated Japan's contiguous zone between Yonaguni and Iriomote islands in Okinawa Prefecture.
It is the first time a Chinese naval vessel has sailed in this area since 2016, seven years ago.
According to the Ministry of Defense, on the 2nd, the Maritime Self-Defense Force confirmed that three ships, including a missile destroyer of the Chinese Navy, were sailing in the Pacific Ocean 160 kilometers southeast of Yonaguni Island in Okinawa Prefecture.
After that, the three ships proceeded northeast through the contiguous zone just outside Japan's territorial waters between Yonaguni Island and Iriomote Island on the 3rd and entered the East China Sea, before entering the waters about 70 km west of Uotsuri Island in the Senkaku Islands. It means that it was confirmed that it was moving northward.
It was the first time since April 2016 that a Chinese naval vessel passed through the contiguous zone between Yonaguni and Iriomote islands, and did not intrude into territorial waters.
Last month, it was confirmed that the three ships passed through the Osumi Strait in Kagoshima Prefecture and entered the Pacific Ocean. We are analyzing the purpose of navigation of these ships.