Japan has dismissed the captain of a Maritime Self-Defense Force (MSDF) destroyer following an incident in which the vessel entered Chinese territorial waters in July 2024, according to diplomatic sources cited by Japanese media outlet Kyodo News.
The Suzutsuki, an MSDF destroyer, inadvertently sailed within 12 nautical miles (22 kilometers) of China’s Zhejiang Province during a surveillance operation monitoring Chinese military exercises. The ship remained in Chinese waters for approximately 20 minutes before receiving a warning from Japanese naval authorities, prompting its immediate departure.
The incident, which occurred on July 4, has sparked diplomatic tension between Tokyo and Beijing. While Japan emphasized that the incursion was unintentional and the result of a navigational error, China has expressed strong dissatisfaction, calling the actions “illegal and improper.” Japanese officials later issued an informal notification to China, assuring them that the violation was accidental and highlighting that the destroyer’s commanding officer had been relieved of duty.
Investigations revealed that the captain was unaware of the ship’s exact position at the time and failed to realize that the Suzutsuki had crossed into Chinese waters. Additional failures in communication among the ship’s crew contributed to the oversight. Tokyo has indicated that further disciplinary measures are being considered for other personnel involved.
“This was a navigational error, and the captain has been dismissed as a result,” a diplomatic source stated.
The unauthorized incursion marks the first time since the MSDF’s founding in 1954 that a Japanese naval vessel has unintentionally entered Chinese territorial waters without prior notification.