Japan’s Ministry of Defense announced on the 21st that Chinese and Russian naval forces conducted live-fire exercises within Japan's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) on the 19th, including machine gun firing drills by a Chinese vessel.

According to local media outlets such as Kyodo News, the Joint Staff of the Ministry of Defense stated that four naval vessels from China and Russia were spotted navigating waters southwest of Okinotorishima, Tokyo, around 2:00 a.m. on the 19th, and that one Chinese missile destroyer conducted firing exercises approximately 180 km southwest of Okinotorishima.

A Chinese naval missile destroyer conducting firing drills in Japan's EEZ [Image captured from Japan Ministry of Defense Joint Staff materials]

Kyodo News reported that the exercise appears to be part of the joint naval drills in the Pacific previously announced by China and Russia, noting that the participating ships included two Chinese missile destroyers, one supply ship, and a Russian frigate.

The Ministry of Defense explained that this is the first time it has confirmed and publicly announced firing by a Chinese vessel within Japan's EEZ.

The ministry stated that China's firing exercises could threaten the safety of vessels navigating the area, and that it has lodged a protest with the Chinese side through diplomatic channels.

No damage to nearby vessels from the Chinese firing exercise has been reported.

Prior to the Ministry of Defense's announcement, Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, who is attending an air show in the UK, remarked in his keynote speech on the 20th (local time) that "Chinese and Russian naval vessels conducted live-fire exercises within Japan's EEZ," and pointed out that "China and Russia are strengthening their military cooperation."

During meetings with the defense ministers of the UK and Italy, Minister Koizumi emphasized cooperation on the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), a next-generation fighter jet development project pursued by the three nations.

According to NHK, he stressed in his keynote speech at the air show that "defense production capability is, in itself, a deterrent," adding that "the defense industry can no longer be self-contained by a single country, and cooperation with friendly nations, including those in Europe, is essential for Japan."

Following the Japanese government's decision last April to fundamentally allow the export of lethal weapons, the Acquisition, Technology and Logistics Agency (ATLA) participated in the UK air show, one of the world's largest aviation exhibitions, for the first time.