Map Tracks Russian and Chinese Spy Ships Loitering off Coast of US Ally
Russia and China have deployed vessels to waters around Japan, with both ships tracked loitering off the coast of the United States' ally, a Newsweek map shows.
Newsweek has contacted the Russian and Chinese defense ministries for comment by email.
Under a U.S. containment strategy, Japan forms part of the First Island Chain-along with Taiwan and the Philippines-in the western Pacific Ocean. This defensive line of islands aims to restrict Russian and Chinese naval activities by leveraging U.S.-aligned territories.
China-which has the world's largest navy by hull count-and its quasi-ally Russia have frequently used waterways surrounding Japan to reach waters beyond their coastlines for naval deployments, with the most recent case involving a Chinese aircraft carrier.
The Russian spy ship Kurily transited off the coast of Honshu-one of Japan's four main islands-in the Sea of Japan, also known as the East Sea in South Korea, on June 4 as it headed north, according to a map provided by the Joint Staff of Japan's Defense Ministry.
The Kurily was spotted passing through the La Pérouse Strait-also known as the Soya Strait in Japan-toward the Sea of Okhotsk to the east on Sunday. The waterway separates Hokkaido, Japan's northernmost main island, and Sakhalin Island in the Russian Far East.
Two days later, a Chinese spy ship-identified by its hull number as CNS Tianlangxing-transited from the East China Sea to the Philippine Sea via the Osumi Strait, according to Japan's Joint Staff. The waterway lies off Kyushu, the southernmost Japanese main island.
Both straits are designated by Japan as international waterways, where Japan claims its territorial waters extend less than the standard 13.8 miles from its coastlines. Neither the Russian nor the Chinese spy ship entered Japan's territorial waters during their transits.
The presence of the Chinese spy ship off the Japanese coast coincided with the deployment of the U.S. aircraft carrier USS George Washington. The Japan-based, nuclear-powered warship was spotted leaving its home port at the Yokosuka naval base near Tokyo on Tuesday.
It remains unclear whether the Tianlangxing was sent to monitor the George Washington or to provide support to two Chinese aircraft carriers operating in the broader western Pacific.
Japan's defense white paper 2024 read: "China has been rapidly building up military capabilities while intensifying its activities in the East China Sea...as well as in the Pacific. Russia has also been observed engaging in joint activities with China involving aircraft and vessels."
Senior Colonel Wu Qian, spokesperson for the Chinese Defense Ministry, said in December of last year: "Japan has been closely tracking, monitoring, and interfering with Chinese vessels and aircraft for a long time, jeopardizing the safety of Chinese vessels and aircraft and easily causing maritime and air security problems."
Both Russia and China are likely to continue using waterways around Japan to access the broader western Pacific for naval deployments. It remains to be seen how Japan will enhance its maritime surveillance in surrounding waters.
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