Japan raps China, Russia warships’ ‘show of force’ during Asean meeting
- Japanese Defence Minister Nobuo Kishi warned against such tactics against his nation
- Kishi also expressed concerns about Chinese warplanes in the southwestern part of Taiwan’s air defence identification zone
Japanese Defence Minister Nobuo Kishi on Wednesday criticised Chinese and Russian warships recently sailing near Japan for their “show of force,” warning against such actions as sabre-rattling tactics against his nation.
Kishi said at a press conference in Phnom Penh that Japan confirmed five Russian naval vessels have been heading southward off Hokkaido in the Pacific Ocean and then passing through the Tsushima Strait in southwestern Japan before moving to the Sea of Japan since mid-June.
He described the actions as “almost circling Japan,” and said three Chinese navy ships were also following a similar path.
Kishi expressed concern over “nearly 10 Russian and Chinese ships moving around our nation in such a short period of time in similar courses.”
He said another six Chinese vessels passed near the southern island prefecture of Okinawa when they moved from the East China Sea toward the Pacific from Tuesday to Wednesday.
