G7 Summit: Tension mounts as Chinese warships sail around Japan

Japan’s Defense Ministry on Thursday released a map showing the Type 055 guided missile destroyer Lhasa, one of the People’s Liberation Army Navy’s most powerful warships, leading a four-ship flotilla that also included a smaller destroyer, a frigate and a supply ship on the clockwise circumnavigation, reports CNN.

The Japanese map shows the voyage began April 30 in the Tsushima Strait between South Korea and Japan, progressed through the Tsugaru Strait at the northern tip of Hokkaido on May 5 and 6 and then was in the Izu island chain south of Tokyo on Thursday.

While the voyage is likely a routine PLA Navy far sea exercise that does not violate any international law or target any third party, it could be seen as a strong message to Japan, experts told Global Times.

The same day, Japan's Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi also said that Japan has protested to China through diplomatic channels over "extremely inappropriate" comments related to Tokyo's policy toward Taiwan island made by Chinese Ambassador to Japan Wu Jianghao, the newspaper reported.

At a conference in April 28, Wu said the view that Taiwan island is connected to Japan's security is "absurd and dangerous."

China's national defense development aims to safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests, but China will not tolerate Japan interfering in its internal affairs, Chinese military expert Song Zhongping told the Global Times on Thursday.

China has sufficient capabilities to counter Japan's provocations, as shown by the voyage, Song said.