On Friday, April 17, the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force destroyer “Ikazuchi” sailed through the Taiwan Strait, which sparked protests from the People’s Republic of China (PRC). This marks the first time a Japanese warship has crossed the Taiwan Strait since Prime Minister Taro Kono took office in October last year.
Multiple Japanese media outlets cited anonymous sources to disclose the passage of this destroyer through the Taiwan Strait, while the Japanese government has not made any official comments regarding the incident.
Chinese Eastern Theater Command spokesperson Xu Chenghua stated that the Japanese destroyer “Ikazuchi” transited the Taiwan Strait from 4:02 am to 5:50 pm on Friday, with the Chinese navy and air force tracking and monitoring it throughout the journey.
According to Kyodo News, diplomatic sources revealed that a Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force destroyer sailed through the Taiwan Strait on Friday.
This move could further escalate tensions between China and Japan. Prime Minister Taro Kono’s remarks on “Taiwan Strait contingencies” in November last year had already provoked the PRC, leading Beijing to impose a series of retaliatory measures against Japan.
Despite Japan not officially announcing the passage of the “Ikazuchi” destroyer through the Taiwan Strait, the action appears to be based on the assessment that Japan should take a firmer stance in response to China’s increasingly assertive behavior.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun stated at a press conference on Friday that this move severely damages the political foundation of China-Japan relations. China strongly opposes it and has lodged a formal protest with Japan.
The Joint Staff Office of the Japanese Self-Defense Forces stated that the destroyer is planned to participate in the annual large-scale U.S.-Philippines joint military exercise “Shoulder-to-Shoulder” from April 20 to May 8 in the Philippines.
Both Japanese and Chinese diplomatic sources informed Kyodo News that the Chinese government has summoned Japanese officials to protest the passage of the Japanese warship.
Japan’s ally, the United States, frequently dispatches warships through the Taiwan Strait to uphold freedom of navigation in international waters.