Chinese Navy Survey Ship Enters Territorial Waters; MSDF Conducts Surveillance and Intelligence Gathering

A Chinese naval vessel was reported to have entered Japanese territorial waters near Kuchinoerabu ​Island in Kagoshima Prefecture on Saturday morning, according‌ to the Defense Ministry. The ministry stated that the Chinese naval survey ship entered​ the territorial waters southwest of Kuchinoerabu ⁢Island at approximately 6 a.m. and exited southwest of ‍Yakushima​ Island at around 7:53 a.m. In response, Maritime Self-Defense Force vessels and aircraft were deployed for ‌surveillance and intelligence gathering purposes.