China, Russia Hold Live-Fire Drills in Japan's EEZ as Koizumi Warns of Deeper Military Ties
Updated
Updated · Kyodo News Plus · Jul 21
China, Russia Hold Live-Fire Drills in Japan's EEZ as Koizumi Warns of Deeper Military Ties
3 articles · Updated · Kyodo News Plus · Jul 21
Summary
Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi said Monday that Chinese and Russian navies conducted live-fire drills inside Japan's exclusive economic zone over the weekend, disclosing the move during a speech in Farnborough, Britain.
Koizumi cast the exercise as evidence of deepening Beijing-Moscow military cooperation, sharpening Japan's security concerns over joint operations near its waters.
Near Okinotori Island, Japan had earlier detected two Chinese destroyers, a supply ship and a Russian frigate, with one Chinese warship firing live rounds after notifying nearby vessels.
The drill was the first known live-fire exercise by a foreign navy inside Japan's claimed EEZ, and it also revived a legal dispute because China rejects Okinotori as an island entitled to an EEZ under international law.
With Russia joining drills near Japan, are regional alliances prepared for coordinated authoritarian military challenges?
A decade after a landmark ruling, why is China accelerating its military expansion in the South China Sea?
Escalation in the Pacific: Chinese and Russian Naval Drills in Japan’s Claimed EEZ Near Okinotori, July 2026
Overview
On July 19, 2026, Chinese and Russian navies conducted live-fire drills in Japan's exclusive economic zone near Okinotori Island, marking a major escalation in regional tensions. Japan responded by monitoring the exercises, publicly disclosing the incident for the first time, and lodging a formal diplomatic protest with China. This event highlights a shift in Japan’s maritime security approach and underscores the ongoing dispute over Okinotori’s status, with Beijing insisting it is a reef, not an island. The incident reflects deepening Sino-Russian military cooperation and raises concerns about future security and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.