Chinese survey ship enters Japanese waters near Kagoshima sparking diplomatic protest.

According to information published by NHK on August 31, 2024, the Japanese Ministry of Defense has reported that a Chinese naval survey ship temporarily entered Japan's territorial waters off the coast of Kagoshima Prefecture.
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Chinese Type 636 hydrographic survey ship. (Picture source: MYSF)

According to the Ministry of Defense, the Chinese survey vessel was first observed by the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) navigating eastward within Japan's contiguous zone west of Kuchinoerabu Island shortly before 5 a.m. on August 31.

The ship subsequently entered Japanese territorial waters southwest of the island around 6 a.m. It remained in Japanese waters for approximately one hour and fifty minutes before departing southward at around 7:53 a.m.

This marks the 10th time since September last year that a Chinese naval survey ship has been detected navigating within Japanese territorial waters. Including incursions by submarines and intelligence-gathering ships, the total number of such incidents reaches 13.

Survey ships are equipped to collect detailed data on seabed topography, water depth, and sea temperatures, which could be valuable for submarine operations. According to Ministry of Defense officials, there is a possibility that the Chinese military is collecting such data to support submarine activities.

The August 26 incident involved a Chinese reconnaissance aircraft flying over Japanese airspace near the Danjo Islands, part of the Gotō Islands in Nagasaki Prefecture. This was the first confirmed airspace intrusion by a Chinese military aircraft.

The Ministry of Defense has expressed difficulty in determining the specific intentions or objectives behind these actions, including any potential link between the survey ship and the aircraft. However, the Ministry noted that China has been increasingly active in its military operations around Japan in recent years, suggesting that these incursions could be part of a broader pattern.

About the ship

The Type 636 measures 129.82 meters in length, with a beam of 17 meters and a depth of 8.1 meters. The ship cruises at 15 knots and can reach a top speed of 18 knots. It has a displacement of 5,872 tons, an endurance of 60 days, and a range of 15,000 nautical miles.