Chinese Warship Enters Japan's Contiguous Zone around Senkakus for 1st Time

Tokyo, June 9 (Jiji Press)--A Chinese warship, for the first time, has entered Japan's contiguous zone outside its territorial waters around the Senkaku Islands in the southernmost prefecture of Okinawa, the Japanese government said early Thursday. As Russian warships also entered the zone, the Japanese government is analyzing circumstances related to the Chinese and Russian militaries. According to Japan's Defense Ministry and Cabinet Secretariat, the Setogiri destroyer of the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force spotted a Jiangkai-I Class frigate of the Chinese navy crossing into the contiguous zone at a point northeast of Kubajima, one of the Japanese-controlled islands in the East China Sea, around 12:50 a.m. Thursday (3:50 p.m. Wednesday GMT). It is the first time for a Chinese military vessel to enter the contiguous zone around the Senkaku chain, according to the Defense Ministry. The islands are claimed by China, which calls them Diaoyu. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe instructed ministries and agencies concerned to deal with the situation in close cooperation to prepare for any unexpected development, keep in close contact with the United States and other relevant countries, and fully monitor the situation. A liaison office was set up at the crisis management center of the prime minister's office. The Defense Ministry convened an emergency meeting of senior officials. Summoning Chinese Ambassador to Japan Cheng Yonghua around 2 a.m. Thursday, Japanese Vice Foreign Minister Akitaka Saiki conveyed Tokyo's grave concerns and lodged a protest, and demanded that the Chinese warship leave the contiguous zone. After staying in the contiguous zone, the Chinese naval ship sailed north from a point north-northwest of Taishojima, another of the Senkaku Islands, and left the zone around 3:10 a.m. The Chinese frigate did not enter the Japanese territorial waters around the Senkaku Islands, according to the government. In November last year, a Chinese warship was found showing abnormal movements near the contiguous zone, repeatedly sailing from east to west and vice versa. Chinese coast guard ships have been repeatedly intruding into the Japanese territorial waters around the islands. Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani told a Jiji Press reporter Thursday morning that the international society is increasingly concerned over China's maritime expansion. Through the frigate's entry into the contiguous zone, China "may have demonstrated its stance of never compromising (on the maritime issue)," Nakatani pointed out, adding, "This is a matter of serious concern, and we need to continue closely monitoring the situation." Meanwhile, three Russian warships, including an Udaloy Class destroyer, went into the contiguous zone from south at a point between Kubajima and Taishojima around 9:50 p.m. Wednesday. They sailed north and left the zone around 3:05 a.m. Thursday. Russian military ships have entered the contiguous zone around the Senkaku Islands in the past, according to Japanese government officials. Under international law, there is no problem for foreign warships to enter a contiguous zone, extending 12 nautical miles from the outer edge of territorial waters. END