Live-Fire Drill in Japan’s Exclusive Economic Zone
Japan’s Ministry of Defense confirmed that a Chinese naval vessel conducted a machine-gun firing exercise on July 19 within Japan’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in the Pacific. The incident, involving the Type 052D destroyer Kaifeng, occurred approximately 180 kilometers southwest of Okinotorishima. This marks the first time Tokyo has publicly confirmed a foreign warship performing live-fire drills inside its claimed EEZ.
A Joint Naval Contingent Observed
The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) tracked a group of four vessels operating in the region. The task force included the Chinese Type 055 destroyer Anshan, the Kaifeng, the replenishment ship Kekexilihu, and the Russian Navy’s Steregushchiy-class frigate Rezkiy. Japanese Joint Staff officials initially detected the ships 330 kilometers southwest of Okinotorishima before the Kaifeng moved closer to the island to initiate the drill.
The flotilla had previously transited between Okinawa’s main island and Miyako Island on July 16. During the July 19 exercise, the Kaifeng broadcast its location and the duration of the drill via radio, which was monitored by the JMSDF destroyer Samidare. Tokyo lodged a diplomatic protest regarding the safety of commercial shipping, though the government did not allege a violation of international law, as the activity took place outside Japan’s 12-nautical-mile territorial sea.
Clashing Views on Maritime Jurisdiction
The standoff underscores a fundamental disagreement over maritime law. Beijing contends that Okinotorishima is a rock rather than an island, arguing it cannot generate an EEZ under Article 121 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Japan maintains the feature is an island and has reinforced it to support its maritime claims.
Because the exercise occurred beyond territorial waters, the dispute centers on whether foreign militaries may conduct live-fire drills within another nation’s EEZ. China, which has long pressed for greater coastal state control over foreign military activity in waters it claims as its own, defended its actions by asserting the waters are part of the high seas. Beijing’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian stated that the protest was groundless and accused Japan of exaggerating external threats to justify its own military buildup.
Rising Operational Interoperability
This exercise followed the “Joint Sea 2026” drills held near Qingdao, signaling a shift in the nature of the Beijing-Moscow military partnership. Japanese officials observe that these interactions are moving beyond symbolic political gestures toward genuine operational interoperability.
The coordination between the Kaifeng and the Russian frigate Rezkiy demonstrates a capacity for joint command and synchronized activity across the Western Pacific. Japan’s Defense Ministry continues to monitor these patterns, noting that the frequency and sophistication of joint China-Russia maneuvers—including bomber flights and coordinated naval transits—have increased significantly in recent years. For Tokyo, the core concern remains the potential for these “routine” exercises to normalize a persistent, coordinated military presence around the Japanese archipelago.