Recent developments reveal that China fired warning shots at a Japanese warship when it wandered into China’s territorial waters in the East China Sea last year, a report has surfaced.
The Newsweek media outlet reached out to both the Japanese and Chinese foreign ministries for their perspectives via email.
What’s the Big Deal?
Frictions are rising steadily between China and Japan, a key U.S. ally. This ongoing tension stems from China’s vigorous military buildup, which includes more frequent military exercises by the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) around Taiwan, an area Beijing claims, and increased patrols by Chinese coast guards near the contested Senkaku Islands, or the Diaoyu Islands as they are known in China.
Key Details
On July 4, 2024, Japan’s Maritime Self-Defense Force destroyer, the JS Suzutsuki, was initially navigating through international waters close to the Zhejiang province of China, to the north of the Taiwan Strait.
While in this area, the vessel was observing military drills conducted by the PLA’s Eastern Theater Command. Prior to this, Zhejiang’s maritime authority had announced a no-sail zone that spanned July 3 and 4.
In an unexpected twist, this 6,800-ton destroyer approached the territorial waters of China, which are delineated 12 nautical miles (or about 13.8 miles) from the baselines along Zhejiang’s coast.
When the destroyer failed to heed multiple warnings to alter its course, Chinese military forces fired at least two warning rounds — one before the JS Suzutsuki entered the territorial waters and another once it did, according to reports from Japan’s Kyodo News, which cited sources familiar with the situation between Japan and China.
Fortunately, neither projectile made contact with the warship, and there were no reports of damage. The destroyer lingered within Chinese territorial waters for roughly 20 minutes.
Following the incident, investigations revealed it was a crew error that led to this situation, particularly the failure to turn on the navigational system that indicates the boundaries between international and territorial waters.
While the Newsweek team could not verify Kyodo’s report by independent means, China expressed strong dissatisfaction, labeling the move as “illegal and improper” and urging Japan to conduct an inquiry and implement preventive measures to avoid repeated occurrences.
Additionally, it was reported that the captain of the JS Suzutsuki was replaced later that month after just a two-month tenure, with former Japanese Defense Minister Minoru Kihara confirming this in September, although he declined to elaborate on the reasons behind the personnel changes.
According to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, foreign flagged vessels, including military vessels, have the right to pass through territorial waters under the principle of innocent passage. However, Beijing maintains that such foreign warships must secure official permission to traverse through its territorial space.
Earlier in August 2024, Tokyo lodged a protest after a Chinese reconnaissance aircraft briefly entered Japanese airspace, an incident Beijing claimed was unintended.
Public Reactions
Collin Koh, a senior fellow at the Institute of Defense and Strategic Studies, tweeted: “[People’s Republic of China vessels] fired warning shots at JS Suzutsuki last July, including before the JMSDF ship even entered PRC territorial sea. Definitely escalatory.”
Lin Jian, from China’s Foreign Ministry, stated on August 11: “Foreign military vessels must seek approval from the Chinese side before entering China’s territorial waters. We will address cases of unauthorized entries as per the relevant laws and regulations.”
What’s Next?
Looking ahead, the Japanese Defense Ministry highlighted, in a 2025 report, that Beijing represents Tokyo’s “biggest strategic challenge”, noting an increase in Chinese naval activities near Japanese waters and strengthening military partnerships with Russia.
The report also brought attention to the widening gap between Chinese and Taiwanese military capabilities, with Beijing adamant about reintegrating the self-governing democracy it views as its rightful territory, employing any necessary means to do so.
Update 8/11/25, 10:27 a.m. ET: This article has been refreshed with additional statements from China’s Foreign Ministry.
