Japanese Destroyer Akizuki Navigates Taiwan Strait
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Synopsis
On March 1, the Japanese destroyer Akizuki sailed through the Taiwan Strait to counteract the growing influence of China in the region. This marks a significant action amidst rising tensions between Japan and China over territorial disputes and freedom of navigation in international waters.
Key Takeaways
- The Japanese destroyer Akizuki sailed through the Taiwan Strait.
- This action aims to counter China's expanding influence.
- Joint exercises were conducted with the US, Australia, and the Philippines.
- Relations between China and Japan have soured over territorial disputes.
- Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemns Chinese aggressive tactics.
Tokyo, Mar 1 (NationPress) The Japanese Maritime Self-Defence Force (MSDF) destroyer Akizuki recently traversed the Taiwan Strait in a bid to address the increasing Chinese influence in the area, according to local media reports on Saturday.
The Japanese destroyer moved through the strait from north to south after participating in a joint exercise in the South China Sea earlier in February with vessels from the United States, Australia, and the Philippines.
This marks the second occasion an MSDF vessel has journeyed through the waters separating Taiwan and China. The MSDF destroyer Sazanami passed through the strait alongside Australian and New Zealand vessels in September, as reported by Jiji news agency.
In early February, the combined armed and defense forces of Australia, Japan, the Philippines, and the US executed a Multilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity within the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone, showcasing a unified commitment to enhance regional and international cooperation in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific.
Beijing asserts that the Taiwan Strait and Taiwan are inseparable parts of China, opposing any form of patrolling in the region and viewing it as a security threat. Conversely, the US, Japan, and their allies regard the Taiwan Strait as an international waterway, frequently deploying warships through it to uphold freedom of navigation and counter China’s assertive behavior in the area.
Recently, tensions between China and Japan have escalated due to territorial disputes over the Senkaku Islands. These islands hold strategic importance as they are situated near vital shipping routes, provide rich fishing grounds, and may potentially contain oil reserves.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan has declared that Chinese Coast Guard vessels continuously attempt to unilaterally alter the status quo through force or intimidation in the waters surrounding the Senkaku Islands.
