ID :
116555
Wed, 04/14/2010 - 11:58
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/116555
The shortlink copeid
Chinese submarines, destroyers spotted in high seas near Okinawa+
TOKYO, April 13 Kyodo -
Two Chinese submarines and eight destroyers were spotted by the Japanese
Maritime Self-Defense Force on Saturday on the high seas between the main
island of Okinawa and Miyako Island in the southernmost prefecture, Defense
Minister Toshimi Kitazawa said Tuesday.
The defense chief said the Chinese submarines and destroyers were navigating
southeastward, adding that Tokyo has never before confirmed such a large number
of Chinese vessels near Japan.
''We will investigate whether (China) has any intention against our nation'' by
dispatching the vessels, Kitazawa said.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirofumi Hirano said that while Japan is suspicious
about why the vessels were moving in that area, it has no intention of
protesting because the incident took place on high seas, not within Japanese
territorial waters.
But the Japanese government ''must watch the movement of foreign vessels around
our country closely,'' the top government spokesman said at a news conference.
''We will disclose facts (about future incidents) to keep the public aware of
them.''
The Joint Staff Office of the Self-Defense Forces said the same day that
Chinese submarines were seen on the sea surface near Japan for the first time
and that Beijing had not notified Tokyo of the fleet navigation in the East
China Sea toward the Pacific Ocean.
Two MSDF destroyers Choukai and Suzunami spotted the fleet of Chinese combat
craft in the sea near the Nansei Islands about 140 kilometers west-southwest of
the Okinawa main island around 8 p.m. Saturday. The Chinese vessels conducted
refueling on the sea on Sunday, according to the office.
Flight training of helicopters aboard some of the Chinese destroyers was
conducted between last Wednesday and Friday in the East China Sea and one of
the choppers flew some 90 meters away from the MSDF destroyer Suzunami, the
office said.
Japan has made an inquiry to China through diplomatic channels about the
submarine navigation and lodged a protest over the helicopter's proximate
flight, which it deems dangerous, according to the office.
==Kyodo
Two Chinese submarines and eight destroyers were spotted by the Japanese
Maritime Self-Defense Force on Saturday on the high seas between the main
island of Okinawa and Miyako Island in the southernmost prefecture, Defense
Minister Toshimi Kitazawa said Tuesday.
The defense chief said the Chinese submarines and destroyers were navigating
southeastward, adding that Tokyo has never before confirmed such a large number
of Chinese vessels near Japan.
''We will investigate whether (China) has any intention against our nation'' by
dispatching the vessels, Kitazawa said.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirofumi Hirano said that while Japan is suspicious
about why the vessels were moving in that area, it has no intention of
protesting because the incident took place on high seas, not within Japanese
territorial waters.
But the Japanese government ''must watch the movement of foreign vessels around
our country closely,'' the top government spokesman said at a news conference.
''We will disclose facts (about future incidents) to keep the public aware of
them.''
The Joint Staff Office of the Self-Defense Forces said the same day that
Chinese submarines were seen on the sea surface near Japan for the first time
and that Beijing had not notified Tokyo of the fleet navigation in the East
China Sea toward the Pacific Ocean.
Two MSDF destroyers Choukai and Suzunami spotted the fleet of Chinese combat
craft in the sea near the Nansei Islands about 140 kilometers west-southwest of
the Okinawa main island around 8 p.m. Saturday. The Chinese vessels conducted
refueling on the sea on Sunday, according to the office.
Flight training of helicopters aboard some of the Chinese destroyers was
conducted between last Wednesday and Friday in the East China Sea and one of
the choppers flew some 90 meters away from the MSDF destroyer Suzunami, the
office said.
Japan has made an inquiry to China through diplomatic channels about the
submarine navigation and lodged a protest over the helicopter's proximate
flight, which it deems dangerous, according to the office.
==Kyodo
