Image credit:Maritime Fair Trade
A Japanese naval destroyer’s captain has been dismissed after his vessel, the JS ‘Suzutsuki’, mistakenly entered Chinese territorial waters during a tense military exercise in July. The incident occurred as the ship was monitoring Chinese live-fire drills near Zhejiang province, raising concerns over Japan’s maritime defence capabilities and exacerbating regional tensions.
Japan’s Defence Minister Minoru Kihara confirmed that the captain was dismissed in late July following an internal investigation. However, Japanese officials have not publicly identified the officer involved, nor have they released an official report on the matter.
While personnel changes in the Self-Defense Forces (SDF) are routine, the gravity of this incident, coupled with heightened scrutiny from Beijing, has cast a spotlight on the JS ‘Suzutsuki’ and its operational protocols.
The Japanese government swiftly communicated the findings of its internal investigation to China, stressing that the violation was unintentional. However, Chinese officials refuted this claim, asserting that under their domestic maritime laws, prior notification is required for foreign military vessels entering Chinese waters. Beijing labelled the incursion as “illegal and improper” and called for Japan to prevent future violations.
The incident underscores long-standing tensions between Japan and China, particularly over territorial disputes in the East China Sea. Both nations claim sovereignty over the Senkaku Islands (referred to as Diaoyu by China), a group of uninhabited islets that have been the focal point of several naval confrontations. Chinese ships have increasingly patrolled areas near the islands, as well as Japan’s Kagoshima Prefecture, leading to frequent surveillance operations by the MSDF. The JS ‘Suzutsuki’ was conducting such a mission when it strayed into Chinese waters.