“A Chinese destroyer conducted live-fire military drills inside Japan’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) near Okinotorishima island over the weekend, Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi announced, as Russian warships observed — the latest signal of Beijing and Moscow’s growing defense ties.”
” ‘At this moment, Chinese and Russian naval vessels are conducting joint navigation operations in the waters surrounding Japan,’ Koizumi said in a speech at the Farnborough International Airshow in Farnborough, England, on Monday.”
“According to the Defense Ministry, a Chinese navy destroyer conducted the machine-gun drill Sunday in the Pacific, about 180 kilometers southwest of Okinotorishima, Japan’s southernmost island.”
“The guided-missile destroyer was joined by two other Chinese warships and one Russian frigate to form a flotilla initially spotted sailing about 330 km southwest of Okinotorishima at around 2 a.m. Sunday, the ministry added.”
“Japan says its Okinotorishima EEZ extends 200 nautical miles (370 km) from the islet’s coast in the Pacific, but China disputes this claim, arguing that Okinotorishima is a reef rather than an island and therefore not entitled to the zone under international law.”
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/07/21/japan/china-live-fire-exercise-japan-eez/