Chinese Naval Vessel Enters Japanese Waters South Of Kagoshima Pref.
The Japanese Defense Ministry reports that a Chinese naval vessel entered Japan's territorial waters off the southwestern prefecture of Kagoshima.
Defense officials say a Chinese survey ship was spotted in Japan's contiguous zone west of Kuchinoerabu Island at around 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday. They say the vessel entered Japanese territorial waters at about 11:00 p.m.
Japan monitored the vessel's movements through information sent from the Maritime Self-Defense Force's destroyer Onami and the Japan Coast Guard.
The officials say the Chinese vessel left Japanese waters south of Yakushima Island at around 2:10 a.m. on Wednesday and moved in a southeastern direction.
The ministry says it has conveyed its concerns to Beijing through diplomatic channels.
This is the fifth time that a Chinese naval vessel has been confirmed to have entered Japanese territorial waters and the first since November last year.
Ministry officials say they are remaining on guard and analyzing the purpose of the navigation.