3 PLA warships sailed past Japan amid row over PM Takaichi’s Taiwan comments
Type 055 destroyer among PLA vessels to transit Osumi Strait days after Beijing criticised Japanese leader, defence ministry in Tokyo says
Japan’s defence ministry said on Wednesday that three Chinese ships, including a Type 055 destroyer, had passed through waters south of Kagoshima on Kyushu island on Tuesday before travelling through the Osumi Strait into the Pacific Ocean.
According to a statement from the ministry, the three ships passed through the southern Kyushu waters twice via the same route. The first ship, identified as the Type 055 destroyer Anshan, was confirmed to have passed alone; it was followed by a Type 054 guided-missile frigate and a Type 903 replenishment ship.
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Japan sent three ships to follow and photograph the Chinese ships from a distance, and concluded that the warships maintained normal speeds throughout and did not engage in any threatening behaviour, the statement said.