These days, the newly appointed Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio is certainly not very happy.
On October 11, Kishida arrogantly stated that he would follow the previous government's guidelines, maintain unofficial substantive relations with Taiwan, and continue to "further deepen exchanges and cooperation between Japan and Taiwan."
On the 17th, in the name of "Prime Minister Fumio Kishida," he offered an offering known as "Makoto" to the Yasukuni Shrine, which enshrines Japanese Class-A war criminals.
The new official took office with three fires and burned on China's head.
Unfortunately, it didn't take long, and the next day, the punch in the face came.
A formation of 10 ships of the Chinese and Russian navies crossed the Dotsu-chan Strait, the maritime choke point of northern Japan, giving Japan a heavy warning.
What's more wonderful is that this punch in the face is still a two-stage, the left side of the face is hit, and the right side of the face is not forgotten. After cruising along the eastern side of the Japanese archipelago, on the 22nd, Chinese and Russian warships crossed the Osumi Strait in southern Japan.
As we all know, Japan is an island nation, consisting of four large islands, Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku and Kyushu, as well as a series of small islands. Hokkaido is located at the northernmost point, and the Michizu-karaku Strait, located between Hokkaido and Honshu, is a veritable "throat" zone.
The Osumi Strait, on the other hand, is located south of Kyushu Island, and further down, the Ryukyu Islands and Taiwan, which are equally sensitive.
Over the past few days, Japan has been waiting in a tight position, dispatching patrol planes, minesweepers, frigates, and fighter jets to follow and monitor.
The Japanese media was even more shocked and angry, and the Japan Economic News said on the 24th that "the Formation of Chinese and Russian ships is actually sailing around Japan, which is an unprecedented provocative action."
Interestingly, the United States, which often "sails freely" around China and Russia, has rarely been silent this time. The media naturally paid attention to it, but the official did not openly jump out to help Japan speak.
It is said that the knife has already gone from the neck of the little brother, and it is a little strange that the United States is so calm.
In fact, it is mainly because the United States has no reason to blame China and Russia.
At present, the vast majority of coastal countries have a territorial sea width of 12 nautical miles, including Japan, but the passage through China and Russia is a special situation.
In the 1960s, the Japanese government committed to the "Three Principles of Non-Nuclear Weapons" while secretly concluding a security treaty with the United States.
In order to facilitate the United States to carry nuclear weapons through Japan's territorial waters and not to violate the "three principles of non-nuclear weapons," Japan deliberately designated five waterways, including the Tsugaru Strait and the Osumi Strait, as specific sea areas, with only 3 nautical miles of territorial waters and "international shipping lanes" in the middle, with the purpose of leaving a "backdoor" for the US military.
However, when Japan legislated, it may not have occurred that this rule was used by China and Russia in turn.
Therefore, whether the Chinese and Russian warships passed by the neck of Japan, or from the tail, or cruised around Japan, as long as they were harmless, they were considered "free navigation".
I can go, I can go.
The United States itself is a big family of "free navigation", and at this time, who has the face to come out to help the little brother stand.
The Japanese government was equally helpless, and only Deputy Cabinet Secretary Hitohiko Isozaki responded, saying that the Japanese government would continue to pay close attention to the activities of Chinese and Russian naval vessels around Japan and ensure that the vigilance and surveillance activities in the sea and airspace around Japan were foolproof, but did not comment on the intention of the Chinese and Russian naval vessels to cruise.
As an Asian country, Japan has closely followed the pace of the United States and faithfully implemented the Indo-Pacific strategy of the United States, not only frequently stirring up China's sensitive nerves, but also constantly quarreling with Russia on the issue of the four northern islands, which has caused the regional situation to continue to heat up.
The purpose of the Chinese-Russian cruise is very clear, and it is to remind the United States and Japan that the consequences of stimulating an arms race are serious. We do not want the security situation in the Asia-Pacific region to become fragile, and we have the strength to ensure peace and stability in the region. (Shi Xin)