Japan protests Chinese ship's operation in EEZ

TOKYO, May 27 (KUNA) -- Japan has lodged a protest with China after a Chinese survey ship entered Japan's exclusive economic zone (EEZ) on the previous day, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said Tuesday.
The Japan Coast Guard said it spotted a Chinese marine research vessel in Japan's EEZ about 270 km east of Okinotorishima, the country's southernmost island in the Pacific, at 5:40 p.m. (0840 GMT) on Monday.
"We have lodged protests with the Chinese side through diplomatic channels, stating that marine scientific research conducted without Japan's consent is unacceptable and that it should be immediately suspended," the top government spokesman told a news conference.
The Chinese ship was sailing while dropping what appeared to be a wire in waters, the coast guard said, adding that it demanded the vessel stop the operations. The ship left the EEZ about five hours later, it said. According to the coast guard, a Chinese marine research vessel was last found operating in the EEZ around Okinotorishima without Japan's prior consent on January 1 2024. (end) mk.mt