TOKYO, Oct 26 - RIA Novosti. The head of the Japanese Defense Ministry, Nobuo Kishi, expressed his opinion about the "demonstrative" nature of the joint passage of Russian and Chinese military vessels through the Tsugaru and Osumi Straits.
"This is the first such large-scale and so long-lasting operation. These actions are not something ordinary. There is an assumption that this may be a demonstrative action aimed at Japan," Kyodo news agency quoted the minister as saying.
Kishi also noted that "there is no doubt that the security situation around Japan is becoming increasingly difficult."
On Tuesday, Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said Tokyo had expressed its concern to Russia and China about their actions.
Last Saturday, the Japanese Ministry of Defense reported that 10 Russian and Chinese warships passed through the Osumi Strait, and "at 10.00 (04.00 Moscow Time), 130 kilometers south of the Danjo Islands of Nagasaki Prefecture, a helicopter took off and landed from the deck of a Chinese destroyer." In connection with the take-off and landing of the deck helicopter, fighters of the country's air self-defense forces were raised.
It was also previously reported that Russian and Chinese ships passed through the Tsugaru Strait, and five Chinese and five Russian ships descended to the eastern side of Honshu Island. On Thursday, October 21, one helicopter also climbed from one of the Chinese ships and from a Russian ship in the Izu Archipelago.
Prior to that, on October 18, 10 Chinese and Russian ships passed through the Tsugaru Strait, separating the main island of Honshu and the northernmost island of Hokkaido. The Strait is international, so the passage of foreign vessels, including military ones, is allowed by international law. However, Japan drew attention to the fact that this is the first joint passage of Russian and Chinese warships. Then the ships rounded Honshu Island. Japanese airspace was not violated during helicopter takeoffs. Also, the warships of Russia and China did not violate the maritime space of Japan.
