The Defence Ministry of Japan said on Sunday that a submarine suspected to be from China was spotted in waters near its southern islands, as maritime stress persists in the Pacific.
Japanese Navy on Friday identified a submerged vessel sailing northwest outside territorial waters near Amami Oshima island, part of Kagoshima prefecture, the ministry said in a statement. A Chinese destroyer was also seen nearby.
In recent years, Tokyo has complained of many intrusions by Chinese vessels of its territorial waters and near disputed islands. China has often reacted with rage to US ships sailing through disputed regions of the South China Sea in what Washington calls displays of freedom of navigation.
Saturday’s announcement said Japan’s Maritime Self-Defence Force identified the vessels in a contiguous zone, which is outside territorial waters where vessels are required to identify themselves. Defence Minister Nobuo Kishi ordered his staff to gather information and maintain careful surveillance with a sense of urgency. The submarine continued underwater westward in the ocean near Yokoate Island, the ministry said.
