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© 2024 AFPJapan warship cruises through Taiwan Strait for first time
By Kyoko HASEGAWA TOKYO©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.
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© 2024 AFP
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factchecker
A Japanese warship cruised through the Taiwan Strait for the first time
For the first time since world war two in truth. I doubt they took the scenic route before 1945.
WA4TKG
Why not ?
The chinese constantly come cruising around Miyako and Iriomte Islands.
Let’s see how long it takes for them to start whining again
Peter14
Nothing to see here, literally. The sailors would have been unable to see any land from so far away. Sail through the middle line of the Taiwan strait and land is about 90km away on either side. No idea why China would ever complain about anyone's use of these international waters.
Australia never says boo about any navy sailing through Bass strait between Victoria and the island state of Tasmania (about 240km wide) a little wider than Taiwan strait and unlike China and the Taiwan strait, both sides of Bass strait are states of Australia.
Michael Machida
Now this is interesting...!
OssanAmerica
It's about time Japan stepped forward to join the other democracies in the FON exercises.
Fighto!
Excellent to see the Japanese Navy join their Aussie and Kiwi allies in undertaking this cruise of the Taiwan Strait to assert their right to Freedom of the Seas.
And if it antagonizes Communist China? Go pound sand...losers!
OssanAmerica
What the democratic nations are doing is excercising the right of free navigation in international waters over which the Chinese dictatorship is attempting to control in violation of an international ruling.
What the Chinese PLA Navy are doing is advancing their routes to break the first island chain, in order to confront the US Navy in light of their intended actions towards Taiwan.
WoodyLee
Good.
nandakandamanda
About time.
Chinese PLA ships have increasingly tested Japan's patience, too often and for far too long, with hardly a murmer in return from the Japanese government.
USNinJapan2
Freedom of Navigation. Outside of a declared conflict, technically, Japan has no right to complain about PLAN ships navigating through the first island chain and the PRC has no right to complain about JMSDF ships transiting the Taiwan Strait.
Abe234
Good! Its about time the Japanese Navy got some back bone. If you want to have the support of the Aussies, US,UK,other navies et al, you gotta step up to the plate, and so some work. Sent a clear message to the CCP. We have allowed them to push everyone around for too long. Autocratic,dictatorship, built with capitalism are very hard to deal with as money talked. Only thing is Autocratic dictarships don't have to answer to the public, or business. We thought the CCP would eventually fall apart as the people wanted more than capitalist wealth. Well Kissingers ideas have fallen flat, and we have helped build up the chinese navy, army and airforce, as they creamed in profits from us wanting cheap goods. While we were suckers cute pandas, the CCP were building up its claws. The cold war peace dividend is now over.
TaiwanIsNotChina
This is right and proper: we are assured that freedom of navigation is sacrosanct pretty much everywhere but especially international waters.
TaiwanIsNotChina
As long as you are fine with Japan getting as close to land as China does, sure.
TaiwanIsNotChina
Yes that is nice to be able to just claim things.
The government recognized only as being in charge of the ill defined "China", yes.
Who represent the only democracy created by the Chinese people.
rivx
If they incurred into Japan’s airspace. Shoot it down! These are CCP terrorist. They are simply going to keep pushing and try to test for weakness and push as far as they can go
Desert Tortoise
My big, goofy, immature male Husky wags his tail and rolls over for a belly rub. China acts more like an extremely insecure herding dog always barking and nipping at heels.
TaiwanIsNotChina
We are told that contiguous waters are international waters and this was even further out from contiguous waters. It's not up to the CCP to decide what destinations are valid.
Desert Tortoise
Well, well, I have long wondered if the JMSDF would send a ship through the Taiwan Strait, thinking the Japanese might think doing so would be seen as especially inflammatory by China and maybe too hot a yam to handle. But lo and behold Japan did it. Very good. I hope this becomes routine.
TaiwanIsNotChina
It's the perfect time to do it: they can say that one was a screw up but this one wasn't. China treats them the same anyways.
stormcrow
Why not?! They're international waters, aren't they?
nandakandamanda
If China says nothing, then no problem and no news, right?
OssanAmerica
Good laugh. If China thought they could risk landfall on the Senkakus they would have done it already. China doesn't dare.
OssanAmerica
Despite both nations being US allies, Japan participates in far more FON exercises with the USN than South Korea which limits it's participation to avoid angering China.
Dirk T
I am still waiting for my dividend ...
TokyoLiving
Freedom of navigation for both, Japan and China..
Samit Basu
Right now is the bad time to do it after the SDF screw up in July.
https://defencesecurityasia.com/en/japan-sacked-warship-captain-for-unknowingly-entering-chinese-territorial-waters/
voiceofokinawa
The Taiwan Strait is an alchemist's keg of fire. Let a sleeping dog lie. Don't agitate it by touching, Don't rock the boat.
deanzaZZR
Hogwash. China's position is that the passage of navy ships potentially increases the tension in the Taiwan Strait which separates two Chinese rival governments, the internationally recognized government in Beijing and the remnants of the Republic of China government which fled to Taiwan after its defeat on the Mainland.
See MOF statement following the passage of the German warship only last week.
https://www.mfa.gov.cn/eng/xw/fyrbt/202409/t20240909_11487817.html
JJE
Beijing can sail around the Tiaoyutai Islands. Even drop anchor and make landfall.
callbsout
So when China does around disputed islands, it is aggression.
But when Japan does, it is freedom of navigation.
We know these lines from other agitators in the west.
Japan is being pushed into a war by the west thinking they will back it when blood starts running even though we have way too many examples out there proving the otherwise.
JJE
OK then.
Freedom of Navigation exercises are perfectly acceptable in Japan's claimed territorial waters.
OKuniyoshi
Comparing the incidence last week, and this.
1st, it was contiguous water. Different from territorial water.
2nd, the Pla N was on its way to the Pacific Ocean, quickest/shortest way, it had a destination, not aimless trip.
3rd, this trip, is a trip with no destination, aimless, ie, provocation.