China calls passage of Japanese warship through Taiwan Strait a 'provocation'

China has strongly condemned the passage of a Japanese Self-Defense Forces vessel through the Taiwan Strait, denouncing it as a "deliberate provocation." The Ministry of Foreign Affairs asserted that the Chinese military monitored the escort ship Ikazuchi's transit in accordance with national laws and regulations, underscoring Beijing's firm stance on its territorial integrity.

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a deliberate provocation

This incident further inflames already strained Sino-Japanese relations, particularly following Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's earlier remarks suggesting a potential military response to a Chinese attack on Taiwan. Beijing views such actions as direct challenges to its sovereignty and security, especially concerning the strategically vital Taiwan Strait, which it claims as its own.

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in accordance with laws and regulations

China's official spokesperson, Guo Jiakun, emphasized that Japan's actions, including what he termed "wrong remarks" and the dispatch of a military vessel, constitute "a mistake upon mistake." Beijing has lodged a strong protest, viewing this as a display of force that infringes upon its sovereign rights. This event follows a similar incident in February when the Chinese navy tracked an Australian warship in the same waterway, highlighting China's heightened sensitivity to foreign naval activity in the region.

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wrong remarks