Tension in the Pacific: Chinese and Russian ships cause crisis

After a total of 11 ships belonging to the Chinese and Russian navies passed through the territorial waters near the islands of Okinawa province in southern Japan, the Tokyo administration announced it was taking “the situation seriously.”

According to the Kyodo News, in a statement from the Japanese Ministry of Defense, on the morning of August 15, 6 Chinese and 5 Russian military ships with anti-missile system, 280 kilometers northeast of Okinotori, the southernmost island of Japan. in the Pacific, reported as detected.

Chinese and Russian ships were reported to have crossed the region together for the first time when Chinese and Russian navy ships headed into the East China Sea after crossing the waters between Okinawa Island and Miyako Island.

According to the officials, Japan’s Defense Ministry views the two countries’ repeated joint military activities around Japan as actions by the said countries “to show their strength against Japan.” Japan reported that following the action that it was “seriously concerned”, it conveyed its concerns “in terms of national security” to China and Russia through diplomatic channels.

The ships are believed to have participated in a recent joint patrol conducted by China and Russia in the Pacific Ocean.

China and Russia also held joint military exercises off the US state of Alaska in early August. (AA)