Japan’s military monitored a Russian submarine near Taiwan on Tuesday. A surveillance aircraft and navy ship were dispatched.
The Kilo-class submarine was seen 50 kilometers south of Yonaguni Island, Japan’s westernmost territory near Taiwan. It moved northeast between Yonaguni and Iriomote, escorted by a Russian naval vessel. Japan’s Joint Staff confirmed this was the first sighting of a Russian submarine in these waters.
Increased Regional Military Activity
Japan’s Self-Defence Forces (SDF) deployed a combat support ship and P-3 surveillance aircraft for reconnaissance. No territorial waters were breached. The incident occurred a day after a similar Russian submarine was sighted in the South China Sea by the Philippine military.
China’s expanding military activity near Japan has raised concerns. Joint operations between Russia and China have intensified Japan’s vigilance. On Sunday, a Chinese warship sailed east of Miyako Island. In September, the Chinese aircraft carrier Liaoning, with destroyers, entered Japan’s contiguous zone near Yonaguni.
Japan has strengthened defenses around its remote islands to counter these growing threats.