A Chinese aircraft carrier made history on Wednesday by entering Japan’s contiguous waters for the first time, triggering a wave of condemnation from Japanese authorities. The carrier, accompanied by two destroyers, sailed between Japan’s southern Yonaguni and Iriomote islands. This area, extending up to 24 nautical miles from Japan’s coastline, falls under Japan’s control as defined by the United Nations.
Japan’s Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Hiroshi Moriya expressed Tokyo’s deep concern over the incident, calling it “utterly unacceptable from the perspective of the security environment of Japan and the region.” Moriya underscored Japan’s commitment to closely monitor Chinese naval activities and take all necessary steps for vigilance and surveillance. This incident follows a recent pattern of escalating tensions between China and Japan. Last month, Japan lodged a formal protest after a Chinese naval survey vessel entered Japanese waters.
The presence of the Chinese aircraft carrier in Japanese waters adds a significant layer of complexity to the already strained relationship between the two nations. It also underscores the increasing strategic maneuvering in the Asia-Pacific region, where China’s growing military capabilities and assertive territorial claims are raising concerns among its neighbors.
The Chinese aircraft carrier group was also spotted sailing through waters off Taiwan’s east coast earlier on Wednesday, raising further anxieties. Taiwan’s defense ministry tracked the ships and deployed its forces to monitor their movements.
This incident comes amidst a backdrop of heightened regional tensions and strategic maneuvering. In May, Chinese Premier Li Qiang hosted a trilateral summit with Japan and South Korea to revive trade and security dialogues that had stalled due to global tensions. The summit aimed to resume three-party free trade agreement negotiations, which had been on hold since 2019. Li emphasized the importance of separating politics from economic issues, calling for an end to protectionism and the decoupling of supply chains.
However, the recent events involving the Chinese aircraft carrier demonstrate the complexities of regional security dynamics. In July, Japan and the Philippines, two key U.S. allies, signed a landmark defense pact to counter China’s increasing assertiveness. The “Reciprocal Access Agreement” allows for the exchange of military forces for training and joint military drills between Tokyo and Manila. This move was viewed as a strategic deterrent beyond U.S. support in light of rising tensions in the South China Sea.
Furthermore, the U.S. and Japan are close to finalizing a deal to restrict the export of chip technology to China. This agreement seeks to address loopholes in existing export rules and impose new restrictions to curb the rapid advancements of Chinese companies in chip production. Negotiations involving officials from the U.S., Japan, and the Netherlands aim to establish complementary export control regimes. The incident involving the Chinese aircraft carrier highlights the increasing strategic competition and potential for conflict in the Asia-Pacific region. It serves as a reminder of the complexities and challenges of managing regional security and the need for open and transparent dialogue to prevent misunderstandings and de-escalate tensions.
