Chinese destroyer conducts live-fire drill in Japan EEZ

A Chinese naval vessel conducted a live-fire drill within Japan's exclusive economic zone while operating alongside Russian warships over the weekend, according to Japanese defense officials. The incident marks the first time Japan has publicly disclosed such an exercise by China in its EEZ.

Japan's Joint Staff said its Maritime Self-Defense Force initially spotted a group of four vessels-three Chinese ships and one Russian Steregushchiy-class frigate-approximately 330 kilometers southwest of Okinotori Island around 2 a.m. on July 19. The fleet was observed sailing northeast. Later that same day, a Chinese Luyang III-class guided-missile destroyer from the group carried out a live-fire exercise using a machine gun about 180 kilometers southwest of the remote island, which is Japan's southernmost territory. The Russian frigate remained in the vicinity during the drill. A Japanese destroyer was deployed to monitor the situation, and no damage to other vessels was reported.

Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi addressed the incident on Monday, stating that Tokyo has expressed concern to Beijing through diplomatic channels. Officials argued that conducting live-fire drills...