Japan expresses concern to China over military drills near Yonaguni.
Japan has conveyed its concerns to China regarding the latter’s military exercises around Taiwan, which saw Chinese warships and jets conduct operations near Japan’s southern island of Yonaguni.
Briefing reporters, Japanese deputy chief cabinet secretary Kazuhiko Aoki stated that two Chinese navy vessels including an aircraft carrier navigated near Yonaguni on Sunday.
Chinese fighter jets had taken off and landed from the carrier, with Japan scrambling its planes the next day in response. Aoki noted China has been increasing and intensifying its military activities around Japan in recent years.
Tokyo will continue monitoring Chinese naval movements closely and collect information through patrols and surveillance, he added.
Relations between both nations have deteriorated with Beijing expanding its regional military footprint and Tokyo boosting security cooperation with Washington and allies.
Earlier, a Chinese airspace violation and naval forays near Yonaguni aggravated tensions. As geopolitical competition heats up in the Indo-Pacific, Japan is on high alert over China’s growing assertiveness near its shores amid Taiwan flashpoints.
