Chinese vessel suspected of conducting survey within Japan’s economic zone
A coast guard patrol ship observed the Dong Fang Hong 2 extending a wire-like object into the sea west of the Okinawa island of Kume, and warned it to stop.
The Japan Coast Guard has reported that a Chinese research vessel, the Dong Fang Hong 2, was observed extending a wire-like object into Japan's exclusive economic zone (EEZ) off Okinawa Prefecture on Sunday. The activity was noted around 1:55 p.m. by a coast guard patrol ship, approximately 106 kilometers west of the Okinawa island of Kume.
The coast guard subsequently radioed the Chinese vessel to cease the unauthorized activity, asserting that marine research without Japan's consent is prohibited. Despite the warning, the Chinese vessel continued its operation on Monday morning.
Additionally, the coast guard reported that another Chinese vessel, the Xiang Yang Hong 21, was spotted operating within Japan's EEZ off Kuba, another Okinawa island, on Saturday around 4:50 p.m. The vessel departed the area at approximately 10:15 p.m. on the same day.
Written by urgent.news from Japan Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
