<
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jul/21/chinese-ship-opens-fire-japan-economic-zone-south-china-sea>
"A Chinese missile destroyer fired live rounds for the first time inside
Japan’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) during a drill on Sunday, a day before
Chinese and Philippine sailors clashed in the South China Sea.
Three Chinese warships and a Russian frigate were spotted sailing between
Okinawa’s main island and Miyako island into the Pacific on Thursday, before
being picked up again around 330km south-west of Okinotori in the early hours
of Sunday morning.
The Chinese missile destroyer then issued a warning to shipping that it would
be carrying out the drill, which reportedly included machine guns using live
ammunition. The drill was conducted about 180km from Okinotori, the
southernmost island of Japan, which extends its EEZ to the waters around it.
Tokyo sees the drill – which prompted the mobilisation of air and sea
surveillance efforts – as “part of a move by the two militaries toward
strengthening their cooperation,” Japan’s top government spokesman Minoru
Kihara said at a Tuesday briefing."
Via Aladár Mézga.
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
