Chinese submarines, destroyers spotted in high seas near Okinawa

[ao333]

Okinawa+ (AP) - TOKYO, April 13 (Kyodo)

Two Chinese submarines and eight destroyers were spotted by the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force on Saturday in the high seas between the main island of Okinawa and Miyako Island in the southernmost prefecture, Defense Minister Toshimi Kitazawa said Tuesday.

The defense chief said the Chinese submarines and destroyers were navigating southeastward, adding that Tokyo has never before confirmed such a large number of Chinese vessels near Japan.

"We will investigate whether (China) has any intention against our nation" by dispatching the vessels, Kitazawa said.

The Joint Staff Office of the Self-Defense Forces later said that Chinese submarines were seen on the sea surface near Japan for the first time and that Beijing had not notified Tokyo of the fleet navigation in the East China Sea toward the Pacific Ocean.

Two MSDF destroyers Choukai and Suzunami spotted the fleet of Chinese combatant craft in the sea near the Nansei Islands about 140 kilometers west-southwest of the Okinawa main island around 8 p.m. Saturday. Those Chinese vessels conducted refueling on the sea on Sunday, according to the office.

Flight training of helicopters aboard some of the Chinese destroyers was conducted between last Wednesday and Friday in the East China Sea and one of the choppers flew some 90 meters away from the MSDF destroyer Suzunami, the office said.

Japan has made an inquiry to China through diplomatic channels about the submarine navigation and lodged a protest over the helicopter's proximate flight, which it deems dangerous, according to the office.

LEAD: Chinese submarines, destroyers spotted in high seas near Okinawa+

Japan seeks answers over Chinese warships
By Mure Dickie in Tokyo

Published: April 13 2010 12:07 | Last updated: April 13 2010 12:07

Japan’s defence minister on Tuesday called for efforts to establish the intentions of an extraordinarily large group of about 10 Chinese warships and submarines that passed through international waters near Okinawa last weekend.

The comments by Toshimi Kitazawa, defence minister, highlight concerns in the Japanese defence establishment about China’s rapidly growing naval power and its implications for long-standing disputes over maritime territory and resources between East Asia’s premier powers.

FT.com / Asia-Pacific - Japan seeks answers over Chinese warships

 

[J-10]

This is the Chinese warships patrol the normal behavior!

 

[applesauce]

in international waters, nothing to see here, move on people.

 

[jagjitnatt]

Two submarines and 8 Destroyers???

Now that's a lot for normal patrolling.

Projection of Power is what I'd like to say. China is testing Japan. China likes to test other nations. Nothing new. They know they are powerful enough to do that. So they'd like to show it as well.

 

[no_name]

Probably to get used to the surrounding area, or training for blue water operations.

Actually don't you think that number is kind of right for a carrier group? Maybe larger even.

 

[no_name]

I heard it is 5 destroyers, 3 frigates and 2 submarines rather than 8 destroyers and 2 submarines.

They are having an exercise in the malacca strait

 

[PakSher]

China is a peaceful nation and any Navy has the right to patrol in International waters, just like USA, Russia, NATO and other navies do. Nothing alarming.

 

[jagjitnatt]

China is a peaceful nation and any Navy has the right to patrol in International waters, just like USA, Russia, NATO and other navies do. Nothing alarming.

Would things be peaceful if Indian Navy was patrolling 130-140 kms from Karachi??

Pakistan would be on HIGH alert. They would send in subs and frigates to counter us.

This kind of move is provoking the opposition.

There is nothing peaceful in it.

 

[xuxu1457]

In the same international waters,why the Japan and Us navy can stay freely without any explanation to China,and why Chinese navy should explain to Japan?

 

[DesiGuy]

Don't mess with japs.

they know how to deal with outside invaders.


they have a lot of experience from WW2, if that counts!

 

[no_name]

Lol alot of people would say that the Japanese are the invaders in WW2

 

[DesiGuy]

Indeed, japes were the invaders.

 

[no_name]

Looking at the map, I think they choosed the most 'open' area to go through.
Where else do people expect them to pass? Through Taiwan strait? That would just create more tensions.

No doubt PLAN has a headache everytime they need to take a walk beyond the neighbourhood. "...what about the press, boss?"

 

[no_name]

It also gets the subs into deep seas. You see most of china sea is quite shallow. Which is why Sub base are being built in Hainan since deep sea is close.

In hostile times the US will be looking closely at Hainan base and this 'gate'

 

[no_name]

PLAN needs more experience. They tried open up with pirate patrol. Do expect more fleet like missions like this in the future. This is more important for experience in blue water operations.

Moving about too frequently near Japan sea creates unnecessary tension. It is a good idea to have at least a couple of supply bases outside china sea, preferably with access to deep water. So that once a battle group set sail for training they can stay for long time and get all the experience they need.

Expect some kind of rotation with different fleets participating in exercise in open sea one at a time.