Japan fires naval captain for entering Chinese waters during military drills

Japan removed the captain of the Suzutsuki after the ship mistakenly entered Chinese territorial waters in July.

Japan has dismissed the captain of a Maritime Self-Defense Force (MSDF) destroyer after the vessel inadvertently sailed into Chinese territorial waters in July, despite repeated warnings from Chinese vessels, diplomatic sources revealed.

The incident triggered a formal protest from Beijing.

The destroyer Suzutsuki entered Chinese waters off Zhejiang Province on July 4, staying within the 12-nautical-mile boundary for about 20 minutes while monitoring Chinese military drills in the area.

According to sources, the destroyer’s captain, a male officer holding the rank of commander, stated that he was unaware the ship had crossed into a restricted zone. He had assumed command of the vessel only two months earlier, in May.

The error was attributed to flaws in communication among the crew. An investigation revealed that several crew members failed to adequately check nautical instruments, maintain a lookout, and report to the captain as required.

The officer was dismissed in late July for negligence, and the MSDF is considering disciplinary action against other crew members involved.

This marks the first time an MSDF vessel has entered Chinese waters without prior notification since the formation of Japan’s Self-Defense Forces in 1954.

The Japanese government has informed China about its internal findings but does not plan to release an official report, as it concerns SDF operations.

The incident raises concerns over the skill levels of MSDF personnel, especially in light of their growing responsibilities monitoring Chinese military activities in the East China Sea. Yoji Koda, a former commander in chief of the Self-Defense Fleet, highlighted that the MSDF has struggled to maintain training standards amid heightened surveillance missions.

Beijing condemned the Suzutsuki's entry into its waters, calling it an “illegal and improper move” and urging Tokyo to investigate and take measures to prevent similar incidents. While Japan invoked the right to innocent passage under the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea, Beijing contended that the MSDF ship did not meet the requirements under Chinese domestic law, which mandates foreign vessels to seek prior permission before entering territorial waters.

The incident has underscored tensions between Japan and China, particularly over territorial disputes in the East China Sea, where both nations lay claim to the Senkaku Islands, known as Diaoyu in China. In addition to this, Chinese vessels have also been reported near Japanese waters off Kagoshima Prefecture and the Sea of Japan, where MSDF ships monitor North Korean missile activities.

Amid mounting challenges, Japan is contemplating expanding its personnel and improving equipment to ensure that its forces are better equipped to handle future maritime operations.