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Newsweek
6 days ago
- Politics
- Newsweek
US Ally Shadows Russian and Chinese Spy Ships Near Coast
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Japan—a key United States security ally—tracked Russian and Chinese spy ships sailing near its coastline, as Moscow and Beijing flexed their naval power through joint maneuvers. Newsweek has contacted the Russian and Chinese foreign ministries for comment via email. Why It Matters Japan is part of a north-south island chain—along with Taiwan and the Philippines—in the Western Pacific, under a U.S. containment strategy that aims to restrict the military activities of Washington's adversaries, namely Russia and its quasi-ally China, in the event of war. Chinese and Russian warships take part in a joint naval exercise in the East China Sea on December 27, 2022. Chinese and Russian warships take part in a joint naval exercise in the East China Sea on December 27, 2022. Xu Wei/Xinhua via AP Under their strategic partnership "without limitations," Russia and China have deepened military ties to challenge America's dominance in the Indo-Pacific. Earlier this month, the navies of both countries conducted a war game and a joint patrol in the Russian Far East. What To Know On Tuesday, the Joint Staff of Japan's Defense Ministry reported Russian and Chinese naval activities near the country. A Russian intelligence-gathering ship transited the Tsugaru Strait eastward between Saturday and Sunday. It was identified by its hull number as the Kurily. The narrow waterway in northern Japan lies between two of the country's main islands—Honshu in the south and Hokkaido in the north—connecting the Sea of Japan, also referred to as the East Sea in South Korea, in the west with the wider Pacific Ocean in the east. Another foreign intelligence-gathering ship, operated by China, passed through the Osumi Strait off the southern coast of Kyushu—Japan's southernmost main island—on Monday. It was spotted entering the East China Sea in the west from the Philippine Sea in the east. The Chinese ship was identified by its hull number as CNS Yuhengxing. According to maps provided by Tokyo, neither spy ship entered Japan's territorial waters. While territorial waters generally extend up to 13.8 miles from the coastline, Japan claims less than that in the Osumi and Tsugaru Straits to maintain high seas corridors. In both incidents, the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force deployed ships and aircraft to monitor the Russian and Chinese vessels and gather intelligence, according to reports. On August 8, two Chinese vessels and a Russian warship transited the Soya Strait—also known as the La Pérouse Strait—north of Hokkaido on an eastbound voyage, traveling from the Sea of Japan into the Sea of Okhotsk during their joint patrol following an exercise. What People Are Saying Japan's defense white paper 2025 commented: "The Russian military is continuing active military activities in the vicinity of Japan and its surrounding areas, showing its tendency to deploy the latest military equipment in the Far East. Russia's military activities in the Indo-Pacific region, including Japan, coupled with its strategic partnership with China, are posing a strong security concern." Senior Colonel Jiang Bin, a spokesperson for China's Defense Ministry, said at a press conference on August 8: "China and Russia adhere to the principles of non-alliance, non-confrontation, and not targeting any third party in developing bilateral and military relations, and jointly play an important role in safeguarding international and regional peace and stability." What Happens Next It remains to be seen whether the Russian and Chinese naval vessels participating in the joint patrol will sail near Japan's coastline again in the coming days. As reported on Tuesday, they were docked near the Bering Sea, which borders Alaska and the Aleutian Islands.
Miami Herald
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Miami Herald
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 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. Related Articles Telegram Messenger's Ties to Russia's FSB Revealed in New ReportRussia Expands Military Cooperation with North KoreaIsrael Denies Envoy's Claim of Patriot Defenses Given to UkraineNATO Ally Scraps Purchase of US Black Hawk Helicopters 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
Newsweek
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
Map Tracks Russian and Chinese Spy Ships Loitering off Coast of US Ally
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. 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. Why It Matters 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. What To Know 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. What People Are Saying Japan's defense white paper 2024 read: "China has been rapidly building up military capabilities while intensifying its activities in the East China 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." What Happens Next 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.
