Intimidation Under the Sea

Minister of Defense, Itsunori Onodera, on Monday told reporters that the ministry had identified the nationality of a submarine, which had cruised underwater in the contiguous zone of Japan. He added that the self-defense force collected information of the submarine in the way the object could realize that action. It was unusual for military to reveal counteractions against submarine. Without naming specific country, Onodera intended to appeal his effort against Chinese military intimidation.

According to the reports in Japan, the ministry had confirmed at least three submarines around the Nansei Islands. The first was at west of Amami-oshima Island on 2^nd of May, the second was at the west of the main island of Okinawa on 12^th and 13^th, and the third was at the east of Minami-daitoujima Island, outside of the First Islands Line, on 19^th. The government of Japan is warning that if it confirms a foreign submarine in the territory of Japan, the self-defense force will take maritime guarding action, according to the legislation for self-defense force.

The government of Japan is requesting self-restriction for the country those submarines affiliate. In the third case on 19^th, an antisubmarine patrol plane dropped a sonobuoy, the detector which diffused sound wave to the object to let the submarine know about Japan’s acknowledgement, according to the report of the Yomiuri Shimbun. Although passing contiguous zone is not a violation of international law, the officials of Ministry of Defense recognized that the only country which has capability and intention to pass that zone was China. The ministry and reporters shared the notion that those submarines were affiliated to China in don’t-ask-don’t-tell way.

If the submarine was from China, the purpose of the submarine supposedly was to show its presence against US Aircraft Career, Nimitz, which was deployed in the west sea area of Kyusyu Island for the joint exercise by Japan, US and South Korea. It is crucial for China to deny the access of US force and secure the naval control inside the First Islands Line. China seems to continue this type of demonstration of its presence in this sea area.

As North Korea sees US over the shoulder of South Korea, China sees US behind Japan. Even how the government of Japan warns China to stop intimidating action, there will be no consequence unless US is seriously taking on the issue. The diplomacy between US and China looks to be focusing mainly on the issue of North Korea’s nuclear and missile development. US government needs to make its policy clearer than ever on the dispute between Japan and China over territorial issues, including the matter of sovereignty.