Arab News Japan

TOKYO: Japan’s Ministry of Defense today said that a total of 10 Chinese and Russian military vessels jointly passed through the Osumi Strait in Kagoshima Prefecture on the night of the 22nd and entered East China Sea.

It is the first time that Chinese and Russian ships have passed jointly through the Osumi Strait, a relatively narrow waterway connecting two larger bodies of water in the western Pacific.

This passage is not considered a violation of Japanese water because the strait is considered international water.

Saturday’s passage by China and Russian warships across the Japanese archipelago follows the same passage on October 18th when, apparently making a circle, the same ships, including destroyers and frigates of the Chinese and Russian navy had sailed through the Tsugaru Straits northern of Japan.

The ministry said those ships went south of the Pacific Ocean and passed through the waters of the Izu Islands on the 21st.

Although the strait is considered international water, the passage of these warships reflects a new trend in the region by assertive China and Russia, analysts say. The sailing shows their growing military ties and might be considered a response to the submarine nuclear agreement announced last month between the US, Britain, and Australia.

Japanese officials said Japan is watching such a move “with high interest.”