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In July 2024, a Japanese warship ventured into Chinese territorial waters in the East China Sea, prompting a warning from China. According to a new report, a Japanese destroyer—the JS Suzutsuki—operated near Zhejiang province and Taiwan Strait while monitoring live-fire drills by the Chinese military.
On July 4, 2024, despite previous warnings and a no-sail zone declared for the area, the JS Suzutsuki entered China’s territorial waters. After ignoring repeated calls to change course, Chinese forces fired two warning shots—one before entering the zone and another upon crossing into it. Neither shell struck the ship, which remained in the territorial sea for about 20 minutes.
The incident was attributed to a navigational error by the Japanese crew who failed to activate the chart display that marks the boundary between international and territorial waters. The captain of the JS Suzutsuki was replaced shortly afterward due to this incident.
China condemned the ship’s entry as “illegal and improper” and called for Tokyo to investigate and prevent future occurrences. According to Chinese officials, foreign warships must obtain permission before entering China’s territorial waters.
In August 2024, a Chinese spy plane briefly entered Japanese airspace, prompting a strong protest from Tokyo. Beijing claimed this was an accident.
**Statements:**
– **Collin Koh:** “[Chinese vessels] fired warning shots at JS Suzutsuki last July, including before it even entered PRC territorial sea. Escalatory for sure.”
– **Lin Jian (China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson):** “Foreign military vessels must obtain approval from the Chinese government before entering China’s territorial waters. Without approval, the Chinese side will handle such matters according to laws and regulations.”
Japan views Beijing as its greatest strategic challenge due to increased Chinese naval deployments near Japanese territory and deepening military cooperation with Russia. The gap in capabilities between Chinese and Taiwanese forces continues to widen, a concern for Japan given China’s claim over Taiwan.
**Update 8/11/25:** This article was updated with a statement from the Chinese Foreign Ministry.
📚 Reading Comprehension Quiz
In July 2024, what action did Chinese forces take against the Japanese warship JS Suzutsuki after it entered China's territorial waters?
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