Japan raises safety concern over Chinese destroyer's live-fire drills

Key Points:

• Japan expressed concern after a Chinese navy destroyer conducted live-fire drills within Japan’s Exclusive Economic Zone near the southernmost island of Okinotori during joint exercises with Russia, citing potential safety threats to nearby vessels.
• Japanese officials highlighted the deepening military cooperation between China and Russia, noting increased joint operations and missile tests near Japan, which raise security concerns in Tokyo.
• China denied Japan’s claims, disputing the EEZ status of Okinotori and accusing Japan of exaggerating threats to justify its military buildup, while asserting that China-Russia military cooperation aims to maintain regional peace and security.
• The drills mark the first disclosed instance of Chinese live-fire exercises in Japan’s EEZ and are viewed by some Japanese experts as part of China’s incremental strategy to expand control in the Pacific without triggering direct conflict.
• Japan continues to monitor China-Russia naval activities closely, emphasizing the need for vigilance in defending its territorial waters and airspace amid growing regional military tensions.