In recent days, Japan has been closely observing a surge in naval movements from both Russian and Chinese warships around its waters. This uptick began last Saturday and includes both nations stepping up their maritime maneuvers in the area.
Reports from Japan’s Defense Ministry highlight activity from four Russian vessels and five Chinese ships between Saturday and Monday. Notably, Russia and China engaged in joint naval operations in the Western Pacific earlier this month, wrapping up a significant 15-day patrol across 4,800 nautical miles from the Northern Pacific down to the South China Sea.
Additionally, they completed a collaborative exercise aimed at addressing maritime security threats, which took place close to China’s southern province of Guangdong on July 17.
On Saturday, Russian corvettes, including the Sovetskaya Gavan and Koryeyets, traversed the La Perouse Strait heading east. The next day, two additional Russian corvettes, R-298 and R-261, returned through the strait to the Sea of Japan, all belonging to Russia’s Pacific Fleet.
Meanwhile, a Chinese electronic surveillance ship, classified as Type 815A and named Jinxing, operated near Japan on Sunday, moving from the Philippine Sea to the East China Sea.
This activity coincided with military exercises involving the U.S. and Australia, highlighting tensions in the Pacific region. While China’s naval ships continued their maneuvers, Japan’s navy was vigilant in monitoring these foreign vessels.
On Monday, another four Chinese ships traveled northward around Japan’s southwestern islands. They included the Type 052D destroyer Kaifeng and the Type 054A frigate Yantai, which passed from the Philippine Sea to the East China Sea through the Taiwan and Yonaguni straits.
Earlier this month, the U.S. Coast Guard reported spotting four Chinese naval ships in the Bering Sea, near Alaska, and within the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone, prompting concerns about territorial integrity.
Among the ships reported were the Lhasa, Kaifeng, Yantai, and Kekexilihu, which were also seen near northern Japan in late June before heading into the Northern Pacific.
In related news, China’s amphibious transport dock, Longhushan, and the far-seas training ship Zhenghe visited Vladivostok, Russia, to participate in celebrations for the Russian Navy’s founding anniversary. It remains unclear how these movements were tracked by the Japanese Joint Staff Office.
The Chinese navy has announced that following their participation in celebrations, both ships are now engaged in further maritime training activities.