A Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force ship passed through the Taiwan Strait for the first time to assert freedom of navigation, Japanese media reported, a voyage provoking protests from an increasingly assertive China which views the waters as its territory.
The Takanami-class destroyer JS Sazanami, together with two naval vessels from Australia and New Zealand, made the 10-hour transit on Wednesday before reaching the South China Sea to conduct a joint exercise on Thursday, the Yomiuri Shimbun quoted unidentified government sources as saying.
The two other warships were identified as the HMAS Sydney – a destroyer of the Royal Australian Navy – and the New Zealand navy’s replenishment ship HMNZS Endeavour. Both sailed with ship tracking signals switched off.
New Zealand’s Defence Minister Judith Collins confirmed the transit in a statement on Thursday without mentioning the Japanese vessel.
She said the New Zealand and Australian ships sailed through the strait in what she called a routine activity consistent with international law, the Reuters news agency reported.
"The New Zealand Defence Force conducts all activities in accordance with international law and best practice," Collins said, adding that it was the first time a New Zealand naval ship had passed through the strait since 2017.
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There have been reports of increased activities by the Chinese military around Japan in the last few months.
On Aug. 26, a Chinese reconnaissance aircraft entered the airspace of Japan’s Danjo Islands in Nagasaki Prefecture. On Sept. 18, a carrier group led by China’s first aircraft carrier Liaoning sailed into Japan's contiguous zone for the first time.
According to the Yomiuri, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida decided to dispatch the JS Sazanami as he believed that if no action was taken, the Chinese military's actions would escalate.
Taiwan has yet to confirm the transit.
China lodged a complaint with Japan after its military "dealt with the matter according to law," the AFP news agency quoted foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian as saying Thursday.
"China is highly vigilant about the political intentions of Japan's actions," he added.
China considers Taiwan a Chinese province, and claims control over the waters around the self-governed island.
The United States and allies insist that the Taiwan Strait is where high seas freedoms of navigation and overflight apply in accordance with international law.
On Sept. 13, the German frigate Baden-Württemberg and supply ship Frankfurt am Main sailed through the Taiwan Strait. Beijing said their transit was closely monitored.
Edited by Mike Firn.