China and Russia conduct live-fire naval drill inside Japan's EEZ near Okinotori Island, first confirmed incident
Japan's Defense Ministry announced on July 21 that Chinese PLA Navy vessels fired machine guns inside Japan's Exclusive Economic Zone near Okinotori Island on July 19, marking the first time Japan has publicly confirmed such a drill; Russian navy ships were also present; Japan lodged a diplomatic protest and China dismissed it as 'groundless'
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Summary
Japan's Defense Ministry announced on July 21 that Chinese PLA Navy vessels fired machine guns inside Japan's Exclusive Economic Zone near Okinotori Island on July 19. Russian navy vessels were also present. Japan lodged a diplomatic protest through official channels. The Defense Ministry said it was the first time Japan had publicly confirmed such a drill by China in its EEZ. The drill site is roughly 180 km southwest of Okinotori Island in the Pacific Ocean, an area where China contests Japan's EEZ claim on the grounds that Okinotori is a reef, not an island under international law. China's Foreign Ministry dismissed Japan's protest as "groundless."
Why it matters
The public confirmation is a significant shift: Tokyo had previously not disclosed similar incidents. Publishing it signals a deliberate decision to raise the diplomatic cost of Chinese operations in disputed waters, even if that risks further escalation. Combined with the presence of Russian vessels, the drill tests whether Japan will accept joint China-Russia military activity in waters it considers its own.
What to watch
Whether Japan upgrades its diplomatic response beyond a formal protest; whether Beijing responds with further drills or dialogue; and whether the incident reaches the Japan-US security consultations framework, which covers EEZ defense questions.