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 2nd of May, the second was at the
west of the main island of Okinawa on 12th and 13th, and the
third was at the east of Minami-daitoujima Island, outside of the First Islands
Line, on 19th. 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 19th, 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.
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