Japan Protests Chinese Destroyer Live-Fire Drill in Disputed EEZ Near Okinotori Island

Japan's Joint Staff Office reported that PLAN destroyer CNS Kaifeng conducted a small-caliber live-fire drill on July 19 about 180 kilometers (112 miles) southwest of Okinotori Island, inside Japan's claimed 200-nautical-mile EEZ, using machine guns against a floating target while operating alongside PLAN cruiser CNS Anshan, fleet oiler CNS Kekexilihu, and Russian corvette RFS Rezkiy 1. Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara said Kaifeng broadcast a firing notification beforehand, including to JMSDF destroyer JS Samidare, which was shadowing the group, and that Japan lodged a diplomatic protest 1. Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian called Japan's protest "groundless," saying China had been clear about the location of the exercise and describing it as consistent with international law, while accusing Tokyo of exaggerating threats to justify remilitarization 12. Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi linked the incident to broader China-Russia military cooperation, citing it alongside a June joint bomber flight, during remarks at the Farnborough International Airshow 1.