{"id":2580,"date":"2025-05-30T00:00:58","date_gmt":"2025-05-29T15:00:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rips.or.jp\/en\/?page_id=2580"},"modified":"2025-06-06T05:26:58","modified_gmt":"2025-06-05T20:26:58","slug":"vol-22-may-30-2025","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.rips.or.jp\/en\/newsletter\/vol-22-may-30-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"Vol. 22, May 30, 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"l-container\">\n<div class=\"l-post-content\">\n<style>\nbody {\n    width: 100%;\n    height: 100%;\n    margin: 0;\n    padding: 0;\n    background-color: #fafafa;\n}\nh1, h2, h3, h4, th, td, p, div {\n    font-family: \"Helvetica\", sans-serif;\n}\ntable tr, table th, table td {\n    border: none;\n    padding: 0;\n    margin: 0;\n    font-weight: normal;\n}\n.c-table, .l-post-content table, #tinymce.post-type-post table, #tinymce.post-type-page table, #tinymce.post-type-symposium table, #tinymce.post-type-rips_eye table, #tinymce.post-type-activity_report table, #tinymce.post-type-monthly_seminar table, #tinymce.post-type-corporate_seminar table, #tinymce.post-type-research table, #tinymce.post-type-president_column table, #tinymce.post-type-tinymcetemplates table {\n    border: none;\n    padding: 0;\n    margin: 0;\n}\n.c-table > thead > tr > th, .l-post-content table > thead > tr > th, #tinymce.post-type-post table > thead > tr > th, #tinymce.post-type-page table > thead > tr > th, #tinymce.post-type-symposium table > thead > tr > th, #tinymce.post-type-rips_eye table > thead > tr > th, #tinymce.post-type-activity_report table > thead > tr > th, #tinymce.post-type-monthly_seminar table > thead > tr > th, #tinymce.post-type-corporate_seminar table > thead > tr > th, #tinymce.post-type-research table > thead > tr > th, #tinymce.post-type-president_column table > thead > tr > th, #tinymce.post-type-tinymcetemplates table > thead > tr > th, .c-table > tbody > tr > th, .l-post-content table > tbody > tr > th, #tinymce.post-type-post table > tbody > tr > th, #tinymce.post-type-page table > tbody > tr > th, #tinymce.post-type-symposium table > tbody > tr > th, #tinymce.post-type-rips_eye table > tbody > tr > th, #tinymce.post-type-activity_report table > tbody > tr > th, #tinymce.post-type-monthly_seminar table > tbody > tr > th, #tinymce.post-type-corporate_seminar table > tbody > tr > th, #tinymce.post-type-research table > tbody > tr > th, #tinymce.post-type-president_column table > tbody > tr > th, #tinymce.post-type-tinymcetemplates table > tbody > tr > th, .c-table > tbody > tr > td, .l-post-content table > tbody > tr > td, #tinymce.post-type-post table > tbody > tr > td, #tinymce.post-type-page table > tbody > tr > td, #tinymce.post-type-symposium table > tbody > tr > td, #tinymce.post-type-rips_eye table > tbody > tr > td, #tinymce.post-type-activity_report table > tbody > tr > td, #tinymce.post-type-monthly_seminar table > tbody > tr > td, #tinymce.post-type-corporate_seminar table > tbody > tr > td, #tinymce.post-type-research table > tbody > tr > td, #tinymce.post-type-president_column table > tbody > tr > td, #tinymce.post-type-tinymcetemplates table > tbody > tr > td {\n    border: none;\n    padding: 0;\n    margin: 0;\n}\nhr, .hr {\n    border: none;\n    border-bottom: 1px solid #000;\n    margin-left: 0;\n    margin-right: 0;\n    max-width: none;\n    margin-top: 10px;\n    margin-bottom: 10px;\n}\ncenter {\n    word-break: break-all;\n}\ncenter .table-base {\n    border-collapse: collapse;\n    : 100%;\n    margin: 0;\n    padding: 0;\n    width: 100%;\n    background-color: #fafafa;\n}\ncenter .table-inner {\n    border-collapse: collapse;\n    border: 0;\n    width: 100%;\n    max-width: 600px;\n}\ncenter img {\n    max-: 240px;\n    width: auto;\n}\ncenter ul {\n    display: block;\n}\ncenter li {\n    display: block;\n}\n.table-box {\n    width: 100%;\n    overflow-x: auto;<\/p>\n<p>}\n.table-box table {\n    width: 100%;\n    display: block;\n}\nol li {\nlist-style: decimal;\n}\n<\/style>\n<p>    <center><\/p>\n<table border=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" style=\"max-width: 450.0pt; border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #ffffff;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" style=\"padding: 6.75pt 0mm 0mm 0mm; background: cover no-repeat #ffffff;\">\n<table border=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" width=\"100%\" style=\"width: 100.0%; border-collapse: collapse; min-width: 100%;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" style=\"padding: 6.75pt 0mm 0mm 0mm; min-width: 100%;\">\n<table border=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" align=\"left\" width=\"100%\" style=\"width: 100.0%; background: white; border-collapse: collapse; min-width: 100%;\">\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" style=\"padding: 0mm 13.5pt 6.75pt 13.5pt; min-width: 100%;\">\n<h1 align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: center; line-: 25.2pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 18.0pt; color: #202020;\">Vol.22. May 30. 2025<\/span><\/h1>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size: 18.0pt;\"><u><\/u>\u00a0<u><\/u><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span lang=\"EN-US\">What is happening in East Asian Maritime Security? The Research Institute for Peace and  Security (RIPS) publishes the biweekly newsletter, the information on maritime security relevant to East Asia and Japan&#8217;s territory.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" style=\"padding: 0mm 13.5pt 6.75pt 13.5pt; min-width: 100%;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align:center;\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size:16.0pt;color:black\">Monthly Column<\/span><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size:16.0pt;\"><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align:center;\"> <span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"\"><u><\/u>&nbsp;<u><\/u><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align:center;\"> <span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size:16.0pt;color:black\">China\u2019s Installment of Buoys<br \/>\n                                in the East China Sea<br \/>\n                                from an International Law Perspectives<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align:center;\"> <span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size:16.0pt;color:black\">Masahiro Kurosaki<\/span><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size:16.0pt;\"><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align:center;\"> <span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size:16.0pt;color:black\">Professor of International Law, <br \/>\n                                National Defense Academy of Japan<\/span><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size:16.0pt;\"><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"\"><u><\/u>&nbsp;<u><\/u><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"\"><u><\/u>&nbsp;<u><\/u><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Editor&#8217;s Note:<br \/>\n                                This column was submitted on May 26, two days before the Japan Coast Guard\u2019s announcement of China\u2019s removal of the remaining buoy in Japan\u2019s EEZ near Yonaguni Island. <br \/>\n                                Accordingly, no China\u2019s buoys are reported to be placed in Japan\u2019s EEZ at the moment. <br \/>\n                                Japan Coast Guard\u2019s announcement: (*1)<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In recent years, Chinese buoys were spotted in a row in Japan\u2019s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) near the Senkaku Islands (in July 2023 (*2)) and Yonaguni Island (in December 2024(*3)), on the Japan side of the geographical equidistance line between Japan and China in the East China Sea\u2014the presence of similar buoys was also confirmed by the Japanese government in 2016 and 2018 respectively\u2014. The news media (*4) reported that they were believed to be equipped with automatic identification systems (AIS) and a complex array of cameras, sensors, antennas, satellite transponders and other devices possibly for collecting and transmitting data on foreign vessels\u2019 movements, water temperature, ocean currents,weather, etc. The Japanese government have issued a navigational warning to all vessels operating in the area, and strongly and repeatedly urged China to remove them immediately,arguing that the installment of the buoys is a unilateral attempt to change the status quo in the East China Sea. On February 11, 2025, the Chinese government made an announcement that one near the Senkaku Islands was relocated due to the completion of its task on the spot, commenting that its installment was consistent with both domestic and international laws. The Japan Coast Guard confirmed (*5) the removal of the buoy from Japan\u2019s EEZ on the same day, but another buoy in the vicinity of Yonaguni Island is left as it is (*6).<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the meantime, the Japanese government has stated on various occasions that it would implement feasible and effective responses to China\u2019s installment of the buoys in light of the rights and obligations of the countries concerned in the relevant waters, Japanese laws and regulations, and their potential impact on ship traffic and Japan\u2019s fishing activities. <br \/>\n                                Domestically, however, there remains a strong argument that since the buoy remains located within its EEZ, Japan, as a coastal state, should take a resolute stance by removing the buoy on its own. Yet, is such a forcible removal permissible under international law at all? If so, under what circumstances, will it be legally justified?<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To answer these questions, it must be emphasized that the installation of buoys by China within Japan\u2019s EEZ could constitute the violations of the relevant rules of the law of the sea. <br \/>\n                                First, the installation could violate Article 246(2) of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) which provides: \u201cMarine scientific research in the exclusive economic zone and on the continental shelf shall be conducted with the consent of the coastal State.\u201d<br \/>\n                                Insofar as the installation is, or was, for the purpose of marine scientific research (MSR), its unilateral act without Japan\u2019s consent would not be consistent with the said article.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">On the other hand, the EEZ and the continental shelf in the East China Sea, where the installation of the buoys is in question, have not yet been delimited. The official position (*7) of the Japanese government is that \u201cthe geographical equidistance line is regarded as an equitable solution in the delimitation of such maritime area.\u201d By contrast, China refuses (*8) final delimitation based on the equidistance line and instead claims the natural prolongation of its continental shelf to the Okinawa Trough. Despite no mention of the boundary delimitation of the EEZ, China may thus refute the Japanese allegation of violation of Article 246(2) of the UNCLOS by claiming that the buoys have been located within China\u2019s EEZ.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, it must be recalled that the self-restraint obligation (*9) under the law of the sea comes into play in undelimited maritime areas. Article 74(3) of the UNCLOS stipulates that \u201cthe States concerned, in a spirit of understanding and cooperation, shall make every effort to enter into provisional arrangements of a practical nature and, during this transitional period, not to jeopardize or hamper the reaching of the final agreement\u201d for the delimitation (underline added). As part of this effort, Japan and China established in 2001 a mutual advance notification framework for marine research activities (*10) as a temporary arrangement, under which China should notify Japan in advance when conducting MSR in Japan\u2019s EEZ in the East China Sea. Nevertheless, the fact that China unilaterally installed its buoys without prior notification arguably disrespects this framework and, more importantly, demonstrates China\u2019s failure to comply with its self-restraint obligation for reaching the final agreement on the boundary delimitation, whether for MSR purposes or not.\u3000The breach of this obligation has been further aggravated by the acceleration of its development activities of natural resources in the East China Sea (*11).<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Every breach of an international obligation attributable to a state entails the responsibility of that state (Articles 1 and 2 of the Articles of State Responsibility (*12)). The responsible state is under the obligations to cease the act of breach and make full reparation for the injury caused by it (Articles 30 and 31). When the breach continues, the injured state is <br \/>\n                                entitled to take proportionate countermeasures against the responsible state by resorting to illegal conduct in an effort to induce to comply with those obligations on the specified conditions (Articles 22, 51 and 52). Therefore, even if its forcible removal of the Chinese buoy were to cause any violations of international law, including that of China\u2019s sovereign immunity, Japan could justify its act of removal based on its right to take countermeasures \u2014all the more so because it has repeatedly called upon China to fulfill the relevant international obligations. It goes without saying, but for Japan to avoid breaching its obligation of self-restraint in undelimited maritime areas through disproportionate countermeasures, it is important that its self-help measures be limited to the removal of the buoy, and that Japan should immediately return it and, as the injured state, seek guarantees of non-repetition, while demonstrating its intention to continue making every effort to achieve a peaceful resolution for the maritime delimitation in the East China Sea. This de-escalatory form of countermeasures is consistent with their object and limits, notably \u201csuch a way as to permit the resumption of performance of the obligations in question\u201d (Article 49).<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It is up to the Japanese government whether to exercise the right to take countermeasures. The reason that Japan has thus far refrained from forcibly removing the buoys is probably because it has not confirmed any serious damages caused to Japan\u2019s EEZ by their installation. However, should such damages become apparent in the future, it will be critical for Japan to take a resolute approach to forcible removal in order to protect its own maritime rights and interests.<br \/>\n                                (The opinions expressed here are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent the position of the Japanese government or the Ministry of Defense of Japan.)\n                              <\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Notes:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www1.kaiho.mlit.go.jp\/TUHO\/keiho\/cgi\/disp_warnings.cgi?TYPE=NAVAREA11&#038;TANA=250243&#038;LANG=JP\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/www1.kaiho.mlit.go.jp\/TUHO\/keiho\/cgi\/disp_warnings.cgi?TYPE=NAVAREA11&amp;TANA=250243&amp;LANG=JP<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mofa.go.jp\/mofaj\/gaiko\/bluebook\/2024\/html\/chapter2_02_02.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/www.mofa.go.jp\/mofaj\/gaiko\/bluebook\/2024\/html\/chapter2_02_02.html<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mofa.go.jp\/press\/kaiken\/kaikenwe_000001_00134.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/www.mofa.go.jp\/press\/kaiken\/kaikenwe_000001_00134.html<\/a><\/li>\n<li>e.g.:<br \/>\n                                  <a href=\"https:\/\/japannews.yomiuri.co.jp\/politics\/defense-security\/20230918-137246\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/japannews.yomiuri.co.jp\/politics\/defense-security\/20230918-137246\/<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www3.nhk.or.jp\/news\/html\/20250212\/k10014719471000.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/www3.nhk.or.jp\/news\/html\/20250212\/k10014719471000.html<\/a><\/li>\n<li>see p.43 :<br \/>\n                                  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mofa.go.jp\/mofaj\/files\/100826205.pd\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/www.mofa.go.jp\/mofaj\/files\/100826205.pd<\/a>f<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mofa.go.jp\/a_o\/c_m1\/page3e_000358.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/www.mofa.go.jp\/a_o\/c_m1\/page3e_000358.html<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fmprc.gov.cn\/eng\/gjhdq_665435\/2675_665437\/2721_663446\/2723_663450\/202406\/t20240607_11408932.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/www.fmprc.gov.cn\/eng\/gjhdq_665435\/2675_665437\/2721_663446\/2723_663450\/202406\/t20240607_11408932.html<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.jiia-jic.jp\/en\/japanreview\/pdf\/0a52fc25802d39a9ff81438bb9fbcf93f64d753a.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/www.jiia-jic.jp\/en\/japanreview\/pdf\/0a52fc25802d39a9ff81438bb9fbcf93f64d753a.pdf<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mofa.go.jp\/mofaj\/press\/release\/13\/pdfs\/rls_0213d.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/www.mofa.go.jp\/mofaj\/press\/release\/13\/pdfs\/rls_0213d.pdf<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mofa.go.jp\/a_o\/c_m1\/page3e_000356.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/www.mofa.go.jp\/a_o\/c_m1\/page3e_000356.html<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/legal.un.org\/ilc\/texts\/instruments\/english\/draft_articles\/9_6_2001.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/legal.un.org\/ilc\/texts\/instruments\/english\/draft_articles\/9_6_2001.pdf<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" style=\"padding: 6.75pt 0mm 0mm 0mm;\">\n<table border=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" align=\"left\" style=\"background: white; border-collapse: collapse;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td colspan=\"2\" valign=\"top\" style=\"padding: 0mm 13.5pt 0mm 13.5pt;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size: 16.0pt; color: black;\">Statistical Data and Analysis (as of May 30)<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><span lang=\"EN-US\"><u><\/u>\u00a0<u><\/u><\/span><\/p>\n<div style=\"margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 1rem; background: #aeedf1;\">\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0 On May 21, Japan Coast Guard (JCG) released an official annual report, \u201cJapan Coast Guard Report 2025,\u201d which summarizes the JCG&#8217;s activities over the past year.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0 This report describes in detail, including illustrations, how Japan Coast Guard protects Japan&#8217;s territorial waters and EEZs, including the Senkaku Islands.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0 In light of the increasing number of international operations conducted by Japan Coast Guard in cooperation with foreign coast guard agencies, the report also covers in detail international cooperation operations in many fields, such as anti-piracy, anti-terrorism, maritime rescue, and environmental protection.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0 Since the 2010s, Japan Coast Guard has been responding to the increase in smuggling and piracy under economic globalization by creating a framework for international cooperation with the Pacific coast countries and other organizations. <\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0 This report mentions Japan Coast Guard&#8217;s track record of providing expertise and technology to other countries in areas such as search and rescue and diving.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><strong>[Statistical Data as of May 30]<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Japan Coast Guard (JCG) daily updates the statistical data on the number of China Coast Guard vessels entering in the contiguous zone around the Senkaku Islands and intruding into Japanese territorial waters. The below is from the website of JCG.<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color: #202020;\">(<u><a style=\"color: #337ab7;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.kaiho.mlit.go.jp\/mission\/senkaku\/senkaku.html\" target=\"_blank\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?hl=ja&amp;q=https:\/\/www.kaiho.mlit.go.jp\/mission\/senkaku\/senkaku.html&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1747767620766000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3rmblBYJV8jJv1MT9qGhme\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/www.kaiho.mlit.go.jp\/<wbr \/><br \/>\n                                        mission\/senkaku\/senkaku.html<\/a><\/u>)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td colspan=\"2\" style=\"padding: 0mm 0mm 0mm 0mm;\"><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td colspan=\"2\" valign=\"top\" style=\"padding: 0mm 13.5pt 0mm 13.5pt;\"><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td colspan=\"2\" valign=\"top\" style=\"padding: 0mm 13.5pt 6.75pt 13.5pt;\">\n<table border=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" style=\"border-collapse: collapse;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color: black;\">May.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; padding: 0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><a name=\"m_7332603014815507278_m_-1738302690041840738__Hlk190259379\"><\/a><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color: black;\">Contiguous zone<\/span><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color: black;\"> <u><\/u><u><\/u><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; padding: 0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color: black;\">Territorial<br \/>\n                                                Waters <\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; padding: 0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color: black;\">May.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; padding: 0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color: black;\">Contiguous zone <u><\/u><u><\/u><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; padding: 0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color: black;\">Territorial<br \/>\n                                                Waters <\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td nowrap=\"nowrap\" style=\"border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; padding: 0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color: black;\">15<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td nowrap=\"nowrap\" style=\"border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color: black;\">4<u><\/u><u><\/u><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td nowrap=\"nowrap\" style=\"border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: center;\">\n<\/td>\n<td nowrap=\"nowrap\" style=\"border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color: black;\">23<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td nowrap=\"nowrap\" style=\"border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color: black;\">4<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td nowrap=\"nowrap\" style=\"border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: center;\">&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td nowrap=\"nowrap\" style=\"border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; padding: 0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color: black;\">16<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td nowrap=\"nowrap\" style=\"border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: center;\">4<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td nowrap=\"nowrap\" style=\"border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;\"><\/td>\n<td nowrap=\"nowrap\" style=\"border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color: black;\">24<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td nowrap=\"nowrap\" style=\"border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color: black;\">2<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td nowrap=\"nowrap\" style=\"border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: center;\">\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td nowrap=\"nowrap\" style=\"border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; padding: 0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color: black;\">17<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td nowrap=\"nowrap\" style=\"border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color: black;\">4<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td nowrap=\"nowrap\" style=\"border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;\"><\/td>\n<td nowrap=\"nowrap\" style=\"border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color: black;\">25<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td nowrap=\"nowrap\" style=\"border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color: black;\">4<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td nowrap=\"nowrap\" style=\"border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: center;\">\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td nowrap=\"nowrap\" style=\"border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; padding: 0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color: black;\">18<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td nowrap=\"nowrap\" style=\"border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color: black;\">4<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td nowrap=\"nowrap\" style=\"border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;\"><\/td>\n<td nowrap=\"nowrap\" style=\"border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color: black;\">26<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td nowrap=\"nowrap\" style=\"border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color: black;\">2<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td nowrap=\"nowrap\" style=\"border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;\"><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td nowrap=\"nowrap\" style=\"border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; padding: 0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color: black;\">19<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td nowrap=\"nowrap\" style=\"border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: center;\">4<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td nowrap=\"nowrap\" style=\"border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: center;\">&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td nowrap=\"nowrap\" style=\"border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color: black;\">27<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td nowrap=\"nowrap\" style=\"border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color: black;\">2<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td nowrap=\"nowrap\" style=\"border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;\"><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td nowrap=\"nowrap\" style=\"border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; padding: 0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color: black;\">20<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td nowrap=\"nowrap\" style=\"border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color: black;\">4<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td nowrap=\"nowrap\" style=\"border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;\"><\/td>\n<td nowrap=\"nowrap\" style=\"border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color: black;\">28<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td nowrap=\"nowrap\" style=\"border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color: black;\">4<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td nowrap=\"nowrap\" style=\"border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;\"><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-left: 1pt solid windowtext; border-image: initial; border-top: none; padding: 0mm 4.95pt;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color: black;\">21<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; padding: 0mm 4.95pt;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color: black;\">4<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; padding: 0mm 4.95pt;\"><\/td>\n<td style=\"border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; padding: 0mm 4.95pt;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color: black;\">29<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td nowrap=\"nowrap\" style=\"border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color: black;\">4<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; padding: 0mm 4.95pt;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: center;\">&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-left: 1pt solid windowtext; border-image: initial; border-top: none; padding: 0mm 4.95pt;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color: black;\">22<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; padding: 0mm 4.95pt;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color: black;\">4<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; padding: 0mm 4.95pt;\"><\/td>\n<td style=\"border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; padding: 0mm 4.95pt;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color: black;\">30<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td nowrap=\"nowrap\" style=\"border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: center;\">&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; padding: 0mm 4.95pt;\"><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"100\" valign=\"top\" style=\"border-top: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; background: #a5e9ff; padding: 3.75pt 13.5pt 3.75pt 13.5pt;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><b><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color: #202020;\">Date<u><\/u><u><\/u><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" style=\"border: none; border-top: solid white 1.0pt; background: #eeeeee; padding: 3.75pt 13.5pt 3.75pt 13.5pt;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"margin-right: 12.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-left: 12.0pt; text-align: center;\"><b><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color: #202020;\">Topics<u><\/u><u><\/u><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" style=\"border-top: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; background: #a5e9ff; padding: 3.75pt 13.5pt 3.75pt 13.5pt;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color: #202020;\">5\/15<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: none; border-top: solid white 1.0pt; background: #eeeeee; padding: 3.75pt;\">\n<div>\n<table valign=\"top\" width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"width:100%!important;width:100%;table-layout:fixed\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"*\" height=\"*\">\n<div id=\"m_-2284164846401345931m_2496459185264206619fc-id-131\">\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;Japan&nbsp;Joint&nbsp;Staff&nbsp;confirmed&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    one&nbsp;Chinese&nbsp;Y-9&nbsp;Patrol&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    aircraft&nbsp;flying&nbsp;from&nbsp;the&nbsp;East&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    China&nbsp;Sea<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">to&nbsp;the&nbsp;Pacific&nbsp;Ocean&nbsp;through&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    the&nbsp;area&nbsp;between&nbsp;the&nbsp;main&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    island&nbsp;of&nbsp;Okinawa&nbsp;and&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    Miyakojima&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">Island&nbsp;on&nbsp;May&nbsp;15.&nbsp;This&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    aircraft&nbsp;then&nbsp;circled,&nbsp;turned&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    and&nbsp;flew&nbsp;back&nbsp;to&nbsp;the&nbsp;East&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    China&nbsp;Sea&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">through&nbsp;the&nbsp;same&nbsp;area.<br \/>\n                                                    &nbsp; &nbsp;Japan&nbsp;Air&nbsp;Self-Defense&nbsp;Force&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    scrambled&nbsp;to&nbsp;it.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table valign=\"top\" width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"width:100%!important;width:100%;table-layout:fixed\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"*\" height=\"*\">\n<div style=\"text-align:center;text-align:-webkit-center\"><img width=\"210\" style=\"display:block;margin:0 auto;vertical-align:top;max-width:100%;height:auto;width:auto\" src=\"https:\/\/ci3.googleusercontent.com\/meips\/ADKq_Na0GHLU4fL_t_-cVTapafgz9hwCNq1IBgW5EEjq2NxS6mxcZTfew_rBBk0hBel26UEXp6XNfueJxclGH9kWv1AgWAfw5VMSjSRHdmJGfMBBeK4VylTVQmYqvBcBJYoXVxdJivM=s0-d-e1-ft#https:\/\/gy53-cdn.asp.cuenote.jp\/0000013c\/202505\/000196bd\/0008-904092209524.png\"><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table valign=\"top\" width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"width:100%!important;width:100%;table-layout:fixed\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"*\" height=\"*\">\n<div id=\"m_-2284164846401345931m_2496459185264206619fc-id-132\">\n<p style=\"margin:0px\"><b><span style=\"color:rgb(35,34,228)\">Japan Joint Staff<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table valign=\"top\" width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"width:100%!important;width:100%;table-layout:fixed\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"*\" height=\"*\">\n<div style=\"text-align:left;word-break:break-word;font-family:&quot;Meiryo UI&quot;,Meiryo,&quot;MS PGothic&quot;,Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:1.8;width:578px\"><a style=\"color:rgb(51,122,183)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mod.go.jp\/js\/pdf\/2025\/p20250515_01.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?hl=ja&amp;q=https:\/\/www.mod.go.jp\/js\/pdf\/2025\/p20250515_01.pdf&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1749195606899000&amp;usg=AOvVaw33nnbr5NANTEc73zPa1ue_\" rel=\"noopener\"><span><span>https:\/\/www.mod.go.jp\/js\/pdf\/<wbr><br \/>\n                                                  2025\/p20250515_01.pdf<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" style=\"border-top: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; background: #a5e9ff; padding: 3.75pt 13.5pt 3.75pt 13.5pt;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color: #202020;\">5\/16<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: none; border-top: solid white 1.0pt; background: #eeeeee; padding: 3.75pt;\">\n<div>\n<table valign=\"top\" width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"width:100%!important;width:100%;table-layout:fixed\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"*\" height=\"*\">\n<div id=\"m_-2284164846401345931m_2496459185264206619fc-id-133\">\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;In&nbsp;an&nbsp;effort&nbsp;to&nbsp;increase&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    interest&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;Northern&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    Territories&nbsp;issue,&nbsp;a&nbsp;special&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    ship&nbsp;used&nbsp;for<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">exchange&nbsp;programs&nbsp;with&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    four&nbsp;Northern&nbsp;islands&nbsp;will&nbsp;be&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    open&nbsp;to&nbsp;the&nbsp;public&nbsp;in&nbsp;June&nbsp;at&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">a&nbsp;port&nbsp;near&nbsp;the&nbsp;site&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    Osaka-Kansai&nbsp;Expo. This&nbsp;was&nbsp;announced&nbsp;by&nbsp;Mr.&nbsp;Ito, Minister of&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">State&nbsp;for&nbsp;Okinawa&nbsp;and&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    Northern&nbsp;Territories Affairs,&nbsp;at&nbsp;a&nbsp;press&nbsp;conference following a&nbsp;cabinet<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">meeting.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;According&nbsp;to&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    announcement,&nbsp;for&nbsp;two&nbsp;days&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    from&nbsp;June&nbsp;28,&nbsp;the&nbsp;special&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    ship&nbsp;\u201cEtopirika,\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">which&nbsp;will&nbsp;be&nbsp;used&nbsp;for&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    exchange&nbsp;programs&nbsp;with&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    four&nbsp;northern&nbsp;islands,&nbsp;will&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    be&nbsp;berthed&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">at&nbsp;the&nbsp;Port&nbsp;of&nbsp;Osaka&nbsp;near&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    venue&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;Osaka-Kansai&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    Expo,&nbsp;and&nbsp;will&nbsp;be&nbsp;open&nbsp;to&nbsp;the&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">public.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;On&nbsp;board&nbsp;the&nbsp;ship,&nbsp;children&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    and&nbsp;grandchildren&nbsp;of&nbsp;former&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    islanders&nbsp;will&nbsp;have&nbsp;the&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">opportunity&nbsp;to&nbsp;speak&nbsp;as&nbsp;\u201c<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    storytellers,\u201d&nbsp;and&nbsp;panels&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    will&nbsp;be&nbsp;displayed&nbsp;to&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    introduce&nbsp;the&nbsp;history<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">of&nbsp;the&nbsp;Northern&nbsp;Territories&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    and&nbsp;exchange&nbsp;programs.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;Minister&nbsp;Ito&nbsp;stated,&nbsp;&#8220;It&nbsp;is&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    important&nbsp;to&nbsp;expand&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    interest&nbsp;in&nbsp;and&nbsp;understanding&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    of&nbsp;the&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">Northern&nbsp;Territories&nbsp;issue&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    among&nbsp;many&nbsp;citizens,&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    especially&nbsp;the&nbsp;younger&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    generation&nbsp;who&nbsp;will<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">be&nbsp;responsible&nbsp;for&nbsp;the&nbsp;next&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    era.&nbsp;We&nbsp;hope&nbsp;that&nbsp;as&nbsp;many&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    people&nbsp;as&nbsp;possible&nbsp;will&nbsp;come.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;Exchange&nbsp;programs&nbsp;with&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    four&nbsp;northern&nbsp;islands&nbsp;have&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    been&nbsp;put&nbsp;on&nbsp;hold&nbsp;due&nbsp;to&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    Russia&#8217;s<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">invasion&nbsp;of&nbsp;Ukraine,&nbsp;and&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    Japanese&nbsp;government&nbsp;is&nbsp;urging&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    the&nbsp;Russian&nbsp;side&nbsp;to&nbsp;resume&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    them&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">as&nbsp;soon&nbsp;as&nbsp;possible.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\"><b><span style=\"color:rgb(35,34,228)\">NHK&nbsp;News&nbsp;(Japanese)<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table valign=\"top\" width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"width:100%!important;width:100%;table-layout:fixed\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"*\" height=\"*\">\n<div style=\"text-align:left;word-break:break-word;font-family:&quot;Meiryo UI&quot;,Meiryo,&quot;MS PGothic&quot;,Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:1.8;width:578px\"><a style=\"color:rgb(51,122,183)\" href=\"https:\/\/www3.nhk.or.jp\/news\/html\/20250516\/k10014807571000.html\" target=\"_blank\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?hl=ja&amp;q=https:\/\/www3.nhk.or.jp\/news\/html\/20250516\/k10014807571000.html&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1749195606899000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1TboLSj2xiX8dOuLjtAStt\" rel=\"noopener\"><span><span>https:\/\/www3.nhk.or.jp\/news\/<wbr><br \/>\n                                                  html\/20250516\/k10014807571000.<wbr><br \/>\n                                                  html<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" style=\"border-top: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; background: #a5e9ff; padding: 3.75pt 13.5pt 3.75pt 13.5pt;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color: #202020;\">5\/16<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: none; border-top: solid white 1.0pt; background: #eeeeee; padding: 3.75pt;\">\n<div>\n<table valign=\"top\" width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"width:100%!important;width:100%;table-layout:fixed\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"*\" height=\"*\">\n<div id=\"m_-2284164846401345931m_2496459185264206619fc-id-134\">\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;Japan&nbsp;Maritime&nbsp;Self-Defense&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    Forces&nbsp;(JMSDF)&nbsp;confirmed&nbsp;five&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    Chinese&nbsp;naval&nbsp;vessels,<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">one&nbsp;Luyang&nbsp;III&nbsp;class&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    destroyer&nbsp;(hull&nbsp;number&nbsp;132),&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    two&nbsp;Jangkai&nbsp;II&nbsp;class&nbsp;frigate&nbsp;(<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    hull&nbsp;number<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">529&nbsp;and&nbsp;530),&nbsp;one&nbsp;Yushen&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    class&nbsp;LHD&nbsp;(hull&nbsp;number&nbsp;33)&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    and&nbsp;one&nbsp;Yuzhao&nbsp;class&nbsp;LPD&nbsp;(<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    hull&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">number&nbsp;980),&nbsp;sailing&nbsp;south&nbsp;in&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    the&nbsp;waters&nbsp;100km&nbsp;northeast&nbsp;of&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    Miyakojima&nbsp;Island&nbsp;on&nbsp;May&nbsp;16.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">JMSDF&nbsp;then&nbsp;confirmed&nbsp;these&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    five&nbsp;vessels&nbsp;sailing&nbsp;south&nbsp;in&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    the&nbsp;waters&nbsp;between&nbsp;the&nbsp;main&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">island&nbsp;of&nbsp;Okinawa&nbsp;and&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    Miyakojima&nbsp;Island&nbsp;to&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    Pacific&nbsp;Ocean.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table valign=\"top\" width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"width:100%!important;width:100%;table-layout:fixed\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"*\" height=\"*\">\n<div style=\"text-align:center;text-align:-webkit-center\"><img width=\"285\" style=\"display:block;margin:0 auto;vertical-align:top;max-width:100%;height:auto;width:auto\" src=\"https:\/\/ci3.googleusercontent.com\/meips\/ADKq_NbCo8Wpxt4w2F2MKVhnFZns10rX3GsZU2H94nPkMu-KL1g7mSYwUxKekY-fq10YdB1HcmH-ThE44s7sxCvUaErYFMR04UavIwz-SZMW75ZMgW5nL4j7cAiFmOS5VnwvzEy5UTs=s0-d-e1-ft#https:\/\/gy53-cdn.asp.cuenote.jp\/0000013c\/202505\/000196bd\/0009-bf0905d08658.png\"><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table valign=\"top\" width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"width:100%!important;width:100%;table-layout:fixed\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"*\" height=\"*\">\n<div id=\"m_-2284164846401345931m_2496459185264206619fc-id-135\">\n<p style=\"margin:0px\"><b><span style=\"color:rgb(35,34,228)\">Japan Joint Staff&nbsp;<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table valign=\"top\" width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"width:100%!important;width:100%;table-layout:fixed\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"*\" height=\"*\">\n<div style=\"text-align:left;word-break:break-word;font-family:&quot;Meiryo UI&quot;,Meiryo,&quot;MS PGothic&quot;,Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:1.8;width:578px\"><a style=\"color:rgb(51,122,183)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mod.go.jp\/js\/pdf\/2025\/p20250516_01.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?hl=ja&amp;q=https:\/\/www.mod.go.jp\/js\/pdf\/2025\/p20250516_01.pdf&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1749195606899000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3txhBxaK48NSVksjsIVFQq\" rel=\"noopener\"><span><span>https:\/\/www.mod.go.jp\/js\/pdf\/<wbr><br \/>\n                                                  2025\/p20250516_01.pdf<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" style=\"border-top: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; background: #a5e9ff; padding: 3.75pt 13.5pt 3.75pt 13.5pt;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color: #202020;\">5\/17<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: none; border-top: solid white 1.0pt; background: #eeeeee; padding: 3.75pt;\">\n<div>\n<table valign=\"top\" width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"width:100%!important;width:100%;table-layout:fixed\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"*\" height=\"*\">\n<div id=\"m_-2284164846401345931m_2496459185264206619fc-id-136\">\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">Press&nbsp;Release&nbsp;by&nbsp;Japan&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    Ministry&nbsp;of&nbsp;Foreign&nbsp;Affairs<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">\n                                                  <\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">Vice&nbsp;Minister&nbsp;Funakoshi\u2019s&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    Travel&nbsp;to&nbsp;the&nbsp;United&nbsp;States&nbsp;(<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    excerpt)<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">\n                                                  <\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;From&nbsp;May&nbsp;15th&nbsp;to&nbsp;16th,&nbsp;Mr.&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    FUNAKOSHI&nbsp;Takehiro,&nbsp;Vice&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    Minister&nbsp;for&nbsp;Foreign&nbsp;Affairs&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    of&nbsp;Japan,<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">traveling&nbsp;to&nbsp;Washington,&nbsp;D.C.,<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    &nbsp;the&nbsp;United&nbsp;States,&nbsp;held&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    meetings&nbsp;with&nbsp;the&nbsp;Honorable&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">Christopher&nbsp;Thomas&nbsp;Landau,&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    Deputy&nbsp;Secretary&nbsp;of&nbsp;State&nbsp;of&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    the&nbsp;United&nbsp;States&nbsp;of&nbsp;America,&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">and&nbsp;others.&nbsp;The&nbsp;overview&nbsp;is&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    as&nbsp;follows:<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">\n                                                  <\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">1&nbsp;On&nbsp;May&nbsp;16th,&nbsp;Vice&nbsp;Minister&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    Funakoshi&nbsp;held&nbsp;a&nbsp;meeting&nbsp;with&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    Deputy&nbsp;Secretary&nbsp;Landau:<br \/>\n                                                    (1)&nbsp;They&nbsp;exchanged&nbsp;views&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    broadly&nbsp;on&nbsp;Japan-U.S.&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    cooperation&nbsp;in&nbsp;areas&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    including&nbsp;security&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">and&nbsp;the&nbsp;economy,&nbsp;and&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    concurred&nbsp;to&nbsp;continue&nbsp;working&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    closely&nbsp;together&nbsp;to&nbsp;further&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">strengthen&nbsp;the&nbsp;Japan-U.S.&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    Alliance,&nbsp;building&nbsp;upon&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    outcomes&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;Japan-U.S.&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    Summit&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">Meeting&nbsp;in&nbsp;February.&nbsp;They&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    also&nbsp;concurred&nbsp;to&nbsp;convene&nbsp;a&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    Security&nbsp;Consultative&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    Committee<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">(SCC:&nbsp;\u201c2+2\u201d)&nbsp;meeting&nbsp;at&nbsp;an&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    early&nbsp;date.<br \/>\n                                                    (2)&nbsp;They&nbsp;concurred&nbsp;to&nbsp;conduct&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    consultations&nbsp;between&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    Ministry&nbsp;of&nbsp;Foreign&nbsp;Affairs&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    of&nbsp;Japan&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">and&nbsp;Department&nbsp;of&nbsp;State&nbsp;of&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    the&nbsp;United&nbsp;States&nbsp;regarding&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    concrete&nbsp;measures&nbsp;to&nbsp;realize&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    a&nbsp;free<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">and&nbsp;open&nbsp;Indo-Pacific.<br \/>\n                                                    (3)&nbsp;Furthermore,&nbsp;they&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    reaffirmed&nbsp;the&nbsp;importance&nbsp;of&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    further&nbsp;strengthening&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    coordination<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">among&nbsp;like-minded&nbsp;countries&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    in&nbsp;the&nbsp;region&nbsp;such&nbsp;as&nbsp;Japan-U.<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    S.-ROK,&nbsp;Japan-U.S-Philippines<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">and&nbsp;Japan-Australia-India-U.S.<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    &nbsp;(Quad).<br \/>\n                                                    <b><span style=\"color:rgb(35,34,228)\">Ministry&nbsp;of&nbsp;Foreign&nbsp;Affairs<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table valign=\"top\" width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"width:100%!important;width:100%;table-layout:fixed\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"*\" height=\"*\">\n<div style=\"text-align:left;word-break:break-word;font-family:&quot;Meiryo UI&quot;,Meiryo,&quot;MS PGothic&quot;,Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:1.8;width:578px\"><a style=\"color:rgb(51,122,183)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mofa.go.jp\/press\/release\/pressite_000001_01273.html\" target=\"_blank\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?hl=ja&amp;q=https:\/\/www.mofa.go.jp\/press\/release\/pressite_000001_01273.html&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1749195606899000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0YIKIajR5QTkI-0sbMFfAx\" rel=\"noopener\"><span><span>https:\/\/www.mofa.go.jp\/press\/<wbr><br \/>\n                                                  release\/pressite_000001_01273.<wbr><br \/>\n                                                  html<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" style=\"border-top: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; background: #a5e9ff; padding: 3.75pt 13.5pt 3.75pt 13.5pt;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color: #202020;\">5\/20<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: none; border-top: solid white 1.0pt; background: #eeeeee; padding: 3.75pt;\">\n<div>\n<table valign=\"top\" width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"width:100%!important;width:100%;table-layout:fixed\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"*\" height=\"*\">\n<div id=\"m_-2284164846401345931m_2496459185264206619fc-id-137\">\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;Philippine&nbsp;President&nbsp;Marcos&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    gave&nbsp;a&nbsp;speech&nbsp;at&nbsp;a&nbsp;ceremony&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    at&nbsp;a&nbsp;naval&nbsp;base&nbsp;in&nbsp;Subic&nbsp;on&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    the&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">Island&nbsp;of&nbsp;Luzon,&nbsp;near&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    disputed&nbsp;waters&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;South&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    China&nbsp;Sea&nbsp;with&nbsp;China&nbsp;on&nbsp;May&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    20.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">He&nbsp;stated,&nbsp;\u201cWe&nbsp;will&nbsp;never&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    tolerate&nbsp;any&nbsp;action&nbsp;that&nbsp;does&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    not&nbsp;respect&nbsp;our&nbsp;sovereignty.\u201d<br \/>\n                                                    &nbsp; &nbsp;Although&nbsp;the&nbsp;Marcos&nbsp;campaign&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    unexpectedly&nbsp;fared&nbsp;poorly&nbsp;in&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    the&nbsp;midterm&nbsp;elections&nbsp;held&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">on&nbsp;May&nbsp;12,&nbsp;he&nbsp;reiterated&nbsp;his&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    refusal&nbsp;to&nbsp;make&nbsp;concessions&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    on&nbsp;the&nbsp;issue&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;South&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    China&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">Sea,&nbsp;where&nbsp;China&nbsp;has&nbsp;been&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    increasing&nbsp;its&nbsp;intimidation&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    of&nbsp;the&nbsp;country.<br \/>\n                                                    &nbsp; &nbsp;Marcos&nbsp;inspected&nbsp;two&nbsp;newly&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    built&nbsp;warships&nbsp;that&nbsp;docked&nbsp;at&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    the&nbsp;base.&nbsp;He&nbsp;called&nbsp;for&nbsp;a&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    policy&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">of&nbsp;strengthening&nbsp;military&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    power&nbsp;while&nbsp;adhering&nbsp;to&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    principles&nbsp;based&nbsp;on&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    international&nbsp;law&nbsp;and&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">cooperating&nbsp;with&nbsp;other&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    countries.<br \/>\n                                                    <b><span style=\"color:rgb(35,34,228)\">Sankei&nbsp;Shimbun&nbsp;News (Japanese)<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table valign=\"top\" width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"width:100%!important;width:100%;table-layout:fixed\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"*\" height=\"*\">\n<div style=\"text-align:left;word-break:break-word;font-family:&quot;Meiryo UI&quot;,Meiryo,&quot;MS PGothic&quot;,Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:1.8;width:578px\"><a style=\"color:rgb(51,122,183)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sankei.com\/article\/20250520-KW7IGTHSN5IG7HK7E37VELLH4I\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?hl=ja&amp;q=https:\/\/www.sankei.com\/article\/20250520-KW7IGTHSN5IG7HK7E37VELLH4I\/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1749195606899000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1FVjBXwcwYLZfY6lrII02S\" rel=\"noopener\"><span><span>https:\/\/www.sankei.com\/<wbr><br \/>\n                                                  article\/20250520-<wbr><br \/>\n                                                  KW7IGTHSN5IG7HK7E37VELLH4I\/<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" style=\"border-top: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; background: #a5e9ff; padding: 3.75pt 13.5pt 3.75pt 13.5pt;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color: #202020;\">5\/20<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: none; border-top: solid white 1.0pt; background: #eeeeee; padding: 3.75pt;\">\n<div>\n<table valign=\"top\" width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"width:100%!important;width:100%;table-layout:fixed\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"*\" height=\"*\">\n<div id=\"m_-2284164846401345931m_2496459185264206619fc-id-138\">\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;Philippine&nbsp;authorities&nbsp;have&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    noted&nbsp;that&nbsp;several&nbsp;Chinese&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    vessels&nbsp;are&nbsp;\u201cconducting&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    maritime&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">survey&nbsp;activities&nbsp;for&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    military&nbsp;use\u201d&nbsp;within&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    Philippine&#8217;s&nbsp;exclusive&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    economic&nbsp;zone&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">South&nbsp;China&nbsp;Sea.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;A&nbsp;spokesperson&nbsp;for&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    Philippine&nbsp;Coast&nbsp;Guard&nbsp;held&nbsp;a&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    press&nbsp;conference&nbsp;on&nbsp;May&nbsp;20&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    and&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">stated&nbsp;that&nbsp;since&nbsp;the&nbsp;first&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    of&nbsp;this&nbsp;month,&nbsp;a&nbsp;total&nbsp;of&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    three&nbsp;Chinese&nbsp;vessels&nbsp;have&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    been&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">\u201cconfirmed&nbsp;to&nbsp;be&nbsp;conducting&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    maritime&nbsp;research&nbsp;activities&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    for&nbsp;military&nbsp;use\u201d&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    waters&nbsp;off&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">Luzon&nbsp;Island&nbsp;and&nbsp;Palawan&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    Island.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;The&nbsp;Chinese&nbsp;vessels&nbsp;were&nbsp;all&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    operating&nbsp;in&nbsp;waters&nbsp;inside&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    the&nbsp;Philippines&#8217;&nbsp;exclusive&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    economic<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">zone,&nbsp;and&nbsp;were&nbsp;reportedly&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    carrying&nbsp;deep-sea&nbsp;probes&nbsp;and&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    underwater&nbsp;drones.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;The&nbsp;Philippine&nbsp;Coast&nbsp;Guard&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    also&nbsp;released&nbsp;a&nbsp;video&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    capturing&nbsp;the&nbsp;activities&nbsp;of&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    the&nbsp;Chinese<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">oceanographic&nbsp;research&nbsp;vessel&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    on&nbsp;the&nbsp;6th&nbsp;of&nbsp;this&nbsp;month,&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    raising&nbsp;alarm&nbsp;that&nbsp;China&nbsp;may&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    be&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">mapping&nbsp;the&nbsp;seafloor&nbsp;to&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    support&nbsp;submarine&nbsp;navigation.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\"><b><span style=\"color:rgb(35,34,228)\">TBS&nbsp;News&nbsp;(Japanese)<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table valign=\"top\" width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"width:100%!important;width:100%;table-layout:fixed\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"*\" height=\"*\">\n<div style=\"text-align:left;word-break:break-word;font-family:&quot;Meiryo UI&quot;,Meiryo,&quot;MS PGothic&quot;,Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:1.8;width:578px\"><a style=\"color:rgb(51,122,183)\" href=\"https:\/\/newsdig.tbs.co.jp\/articles\/-\/1925524?display=1\" target=\"_blank\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?hl=ja&amp;q=https:\/\/newsdig.tbs.co.jp\/articles\/-\/1925524?display%3D1&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1749195606900000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3vM28YUy-yxepN6JX5_w5s\" rel=\"noopener\"><span><span>https:\/\/newsdig.tbs.co.jp\/<wbr><br \/>\n                                                  articles\/-\/1925524?display=1<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" style=\"border-top: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; background: #a5e9ff; padding: 3.75pt 13.5pt 3.75pt 13.5pt;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color: #202020;\">5\/21<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: none; border-top: solid white 1.0pt; background: #eeeeee; padding: 3.75pt;\">\n<div>\n<table valign=\"top\" width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"width:100%!important;width:100%;table-layout:fixed\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"*\" height=\"*\">\n<div id=\"m_-2284164846401345931m_2496459185264206619fc-id-139\">\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;China&nbsp;and&nbsp;the&nbsp;United&nbsp;States&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    have&nbsp;traded&nbsp;accusations&nbsp;over&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    their&nbsp;respective&nbsp;actions&nbsp;in&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    the<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">South&nbsp;China&nbsp;Sea&nbsp;at&nbsp;a&nbsp;UN&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    Security&nbsp;Council&nbsp;meeting&nbsp;on&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    maritime&nbsp;security.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;At&nbsp;the&nbsp;gathering&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;UN&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    headquarters&nbsp;in&nbsp;New&nbsp;York&nbsp;on&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    Tuesday,&nbsp;acting&nbsp;US&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">representative,&nbsp;Ambassador&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    Dorothy&nbsp;Shea,&nbsp;spoke&nbsp;about&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    dispute&nbsp;between&nbsp;China&nbsp;and&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">the&nbsp;Philippines&nbsp;over&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    territorial&nbsp;rights&nbsp;to&nbsp;a&nbsp;part&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    of&nbsp;the&nbsp;sea.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;Shea&nbsp;said:&nbsp;&#8220;The&nbsp;United&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    States&nbsp;stands&nbsp;with&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    Philippines.&nbsp;Once&nbsp;again,&nbsp;we&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    condemn&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">China&#8217;s&nbsp;dangerous&nbsp;and&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    unlawful&nbsp;actions&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;South&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    China&nbsp;Sea.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;China&#8217;s&nbsp;deputy&nbsp;ambassador&nbsp;to&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    the&nbsp;UN,&nbsp;Geng&nbsp;Shuang,&nbsp;accused&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    the&nbsp;US&nbsp;of&nbsp;sending&nbsp;military<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">vessels&nbsp;to&nbsp;the&nbsp;area&nbsp;under&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    pretext&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;freedom&nbsp;of&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    navigation,&nbsp;but&nbsp;with&nbsp;the&nbsp;real&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    intent&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&#8220;to&nbsp;flex&nbsp;its&nbsp;muscles&nbsp;and&nbsp;stir&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    up&nbsp;the&nbsp;confrontation.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;Geng&nbsp;said&nbsp;the&nbsp;situation&nbsp;in&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    the&nbsp;South&nbsp;China&nbsp;Sea&nbsp;remains&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    generally&nbsp;stable,&nbsp;and&nbsp;that&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    Beijing&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">is&nbsp;confident&nbsp;it&nbsp;can&nbsp;make&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    body&nbsp;of&nbsp;water&nbsp;&#8220;a&nbsp;sea&nbsp;of&nbsp;peace,<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    &nbsp;a&nbsp;sea&nbsp;of&nbsp;friendship&nbsp;and&nbsp;a&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    sea&nbsp;of&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">cooperation.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;The&nbsp;US&nbsp;and&nbsp;Philippine&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    militaries&nbsp;staged&nbsp;a&nbsp;series&nbsp;of&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    joint&nbsp;maritime&nbsp;drills&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    area&nbsp;from&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">late&nbsp;April&nbsp;through&nbsp;early&nbsp;this&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    month.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;The&nbsp;countries&nbsp;have&nbsp;been&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    increasing&nbsp;pressure&nbsp;on&nbsp;China&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    in&nbsp;response&nbsp;to&nbsp;Beijing&#8217;s&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    growing&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">assertiveness&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;South&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    China&nbsp;Sea&nbsp;and&nbsp;around&nbsp;Taiwan.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\"><b><span style=\"color:rgb(35,34,228)\">NHK World (English)<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table valign=\"top\" width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"width:100%!important;width:100%;table-layout:fixed\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"*\" height=\"*\">\n<div style=\"text-align:left;word-break:break-word;font-family:&quot;Meiryo UI&quot;,Meiryo,&quot;MS PGothic&quot;,Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:1.8;width:578px\"><a style=\"color:rgb(51,122,183)\" href=\"https:\/\/www3.nhk.or.jp\/nhkworld\/en\/news\/20250521_10\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?hl=ja&amp;q=https:\/\/www3.nhk.or.jp\/nhkworld\/en\/news\/20250521_10\/index.html&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1749195606900000&amp;usg=AOvVaw33R2ss94pRb0YyMMppEr6p\" rel=\"noopener\"><span><span>https:\/\/www3.nhk.or.jp\/<wbr><br \/>\n                                                  nhkworld\/en\/news\/20250521_10\/<wbr><br \/>\n                                                  index.html<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" style=\"border-top: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; background: #a5e9ff; padding: 3.75pt 13.5pt 3.75pt 13.5pt;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color: #202020;\">5\/21<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: none; border-top: solid white 1.0pt; background: #eeeeee; padding: 3.75pt;\">\n<div>\n<table valign=\"top\" width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"width:100%!important;width:100%;table-layout:fixed\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"*\" height=\"*\">\n<div id=\"m_-2284164846401345931m_2496459185264206619fc-id-140\">\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;Philippine&nbsp;National&nbsp;Security&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    Advisor&nbsp;A\u00f1o&nbsp;said&nbsp;on&nbsp;May&nbsp;21&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    that&nbsp;the&nbsp;\u201ccode&nbsp;of&nbsp;conduct\u201d&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    that&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">the&nbsp;Association&nbsp;of&nbsp;Southeast&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    Asian&nbsp;Nations&nbsp;(ASEAN)&nbsp;is&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    working&nbsp;with&nbsp;China&nbsp;to&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    establish&nbsp;to&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">avoid&nbsp;clashes&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;South&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    China&nbsp;Sea&nbsp;should&nbsp;be&nbsp;fully&nbsp;in&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    line&nbsp;with&nbsp;international&nbsp;law,&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    including<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">the&nbsp;UN&nbsp;Convention&nbsp;on&nbsp;the&nbsp;Law&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    of&nbsp;the&nbsp;Sea.<br \/>\n                                                    &nbsp; &nbsp;Mr.&nbsp;A\u00f1o&nbsp;pointed&nbsp;out&nbsp;that&nbsp;&#8220;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    the&nbsp;rising&nbsp;tensions&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    South&nbsp;China&nbsp;Sea&nbsp;have&nbsp;made&nbsp;it&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    difficult&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">to&nbsp;maintain&nbsp;a&nbsp;law-based&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    maritime&nbsp;order\u201d.&nbsp;He&nbsp;stressed&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    that&nbsp;it&nbsp;is&nbsp;important&nbsp;to&nbsp;first&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    engage in&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">dialogue&nbsp;within&nbsp;ASEAN&nbsp;and&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    create&nbsp;a&nbsp;common&nbsp;ground&nbsp;in&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    dealing&nbsp;with&nbsp;the&nbsp;problem.<br \/>\n                                                    &nbsp; &nbsp;The&nbsp;Philippines&nbsp;will&nbsp;hold&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    the&nbsp;ASEAN&nbsp;presidency&nbsp;next&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    year.&nbsp;Mr.&nbsp;A\u00f1o&nbsp;emphasized&nbsp;that&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">continuing&nbsp;to&nbsp;protect&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    maritime&nbsp;rights&nbsp;and&nbsp;interests&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    based&nbsp;on&nbsp;international&nbsp;law&nbsp;&#8220;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    is&nbsp;not&nbsp;a&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">matter&nbsp;of&nbsp;choosing&nbsp;one&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    opposing&nbsp;powers&nbsp;over&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    other\u201d.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\"><b><span style=\"color:rgb(35,34,228)\">Sankei&nbsp;Shimbun&nbsp;News&nbsp;(Japanese)<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table valign=\"top\" width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"width:100%!important;width:100%;table-layout:fixed\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"*\" height=\"*\">\n<div style=\"text-align:left;word-break:break-word;font-family:&quot;Meiryo UI&quot;,Meiryo,&quot;MS PGothic&quot;,Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:1.8;width:578px\"><a style=\"color:rgb(51,122,183)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sankei.com\/article\/20250521-HH2YCI7WHBI3LFY77QGB3UZODE\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?hl=ja&amp;q=https:\/\/www.sankei.com\/article\/20250521-HH2YCI7WHBI3LFY77QGB3UZODE\/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1749195606900000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0N1tGqOgPVIAxA3MY3ECgx\" rel=\"noopener\"><span><span>https:\/\/www.sankei.com\/<wbr><br \/>\n                                                  article\/20250521-<wbr><br \/>\n                                                  HH2YCI7WHBI3LFY77QGB3UZODE\/<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" style=\"border-top: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; background: #a5e9ff; padding: 3.75pt 13.5pt 3.75pt 13.5pt;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color: #202020;\">5\/21<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: none; border-top: solid white 1.0pt; background: #eeeeee; padding: 3.75pt;\">\n<div>\n<table valign=\"top\" width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"width:100%!important;width:100%;table-layout:fixed\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"*\" height=\"*\">\n<div id=\"m_-2284164846401345931m_2496459185264206619fc-id-141\">\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;Philippine&nbsp;and&nbsp;United&nbsp;States&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    militaries&nbsp;and&nbsp;coast&nbsp;guards&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    conducted&nbsp;the&nbsp;6th&nbsp;Bilateral&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">Maritime&nbsp;Cooperative&nbsp;Activity&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    (MCA)&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;strategic&nbsp;waters&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    of&nbsp;Palawan&nbsp;and&nbsp;Occidental&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">Mindoro&nbsp;on&nbsp;Tuesday.<br \/>\n                                                    &nbsp; &nbsp;This&nbsp;was&nbsp;the&nbsp;first&nbsp;time&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    US&nbsp;Coast&nbsp;Guard&nbsp;(USCG)&nbsp;and&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    Philippine&nbsp;Coast&nbsp;Guard&nbsp;(PCG)&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">jointly&nbsp;participated&nbsp;in&nbsp;an&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    MCA,&nbsp;highlighting&nbsp;a&nbsp;growing&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    whole-of-nation&nbsp;approach&nbsp;to&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    maritime<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">cooperation,&nbsp;the&nbsp;Armed&nbsp;Forces&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    of&nbsp;the&nbsp;Philippines&nbsp;(AFP)&nbsp;said&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    in&nbsp;a&nbsp;statement&nbsp;Wednesday.<br \/>\n                                                    &nbsp; &nbsp;The&nbsp;AFP&nbsp;said&nbsp;the&nbsp;exercises&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    featured&nbsp;in&nbsp;its&nbsp;activity&nbsp;with&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    the&nbsp;US&nbsp;Indo-Pacific&nbsp;Command<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">(USINDOPACOM),&nbsp;PCG,&nbsp;and&nbsp;USCG&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    were&nbsp;the&nbsp;following:<br \/>\n                                                    Communications&nbsp;Check&nbsp;Exercise&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    (COMMEX);<br \/>\n                                                    Search&nbsp;and&nbsp;Rescue&nbsp;Exercise&nbsp;(<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    SAREX);<br \/>\n                                                    Division&nbsp;Tactics&nbsp;and&nbsp;Officer&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    of&nbsp;the&nbsp;Watch&nbsp;Maneuver&nbsp;(<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    DIVTACS\/OOW);<br \/>\n                                                    Photo&nbsp;Exercise&nbsp;(PHOTOEX);&nbsp;and<br \/>\n                                                    Finish&nbsp;Exercise&nbsp;(FINEX).<br \/>\n                                                    &nbsp; &nbsp;The&nbsp;assets&nbsp;used&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    activity&nbsp;were&nbsp;Philippine&nbsp;Navy\u2019<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    s&nbsp;BRP&nbsp;Ramon&nbsp;Alcaraz,&nbsp;BRP&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    Domingo<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">Deluana,&nbsp;and&nbsp;AW109&nbsp;naval&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    helicopter;&nbsp;Philippine&nbsp;Air&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    Force\u2019s&nbsp;Super&nbsp;Tucano&nbsp;and&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    Sokol&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">helicopters;&nbsp;as&nbsp;well&nbsp;as&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    Philippine&nbsp;Coast&nbsp;Guard\u2019s&nbsp;BRP&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    Melchora&nbsp;Aquino&nbsp;and&nbsp;BRP&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    Malapascua.<br \/>\n                                                    <b><span style=\"color:rgb(35,34,228)\">GMA&nbsp;News&nbsp;Online&nbsp;(English)<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table valign=\"top\" width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"width:100%!important;width:100%;table-layout:fixed\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"*\" height=\"*\">\n<div style=\"text-align:left;word-break:break-word;font-family:&quot;Meiryo UI&quot;,Meiryo,&quot;MS PGothic&quot;,Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:1.8;width:578px\"><a style=\"color:rgb(51,122,183)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gmanetwork.com\/news\/topstories\/nation\/946819\/ph-us-hold-joint-maritime-activities-in-palawan-occidental-mindoro\/story\/#goog_rewarded\" target=\"_blank\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?hl=ja&amp;q=https:\/\/www.gmanetwork.com\/news\/topstories\/nation\/946819\/ph-us-hold-joint-maritime-activities-in-palawan-occidental-mindoro\/story\/%23goog_rewarded&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1749195606900000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2-EZIxf8KI4zSqwBCJ4ybG\" rel=\"noopener\"><span><span>https:\/\/www.gmanetwork.com\/<wbr><br \/>\n                                                  news\/topstories\/nation\/946819\/<wbr><br \/>\n                                                  ph-us-hold-joint-maritime-<wbr><br \/>\n                                                  activities-in-palawan-<wbr><br \/>\n                                                  occidental-mindoro\/story\/#<wbr><br \/>\n                                                  goog_rewarded<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" style=\"border-top: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; background: #a5e9ff; padding: 3.75pt 13.5pt 3.75pt 13.5pt;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color: #202020;\">5\/23<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: none; border-top: solid white 1.0pt; background: #eeeeee; padding: 3.75pt;\">\n<div>\n<table valign=\"top\" width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"width:100%!important;width:100%;table-layout:fixed\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"*\" height=\"*\">\n<div id=\"m_-2284164846401345931m_2496459185264206619fc-id-142\">\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;The&nbsp;Philippines&nbsp;says&nbsp;a&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    Chinese&nbsp;government&nbsp;ship&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    damaged&nbsp;one&nbsp;of&nbsp;its&nbsp;research&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    vessels&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">operating&nbsp;in&nbsp;a&nbsp;contested&nbsp;part&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    of&nbsp;the&nbsp;South&nbsp;China&nbsp;Sea.&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    Beijing&nbsp;blames&nbsp;the&nbsp;Philippine&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    side&nbsp;for&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">the&nbsp;incident.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;The&nbsp;Philippines&#8217;&nbsp;Bureau&nbsp;of&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    Fisheries&nbsp;and&nbsp;Aquatic&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    Resources&nbsp;calls&nbsp;the&nbsp;actions&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    of&nbsp;a&nbsp;China&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">Coast&nbsp;Guard&nbsp;ship&nbsp;&#8220;aggressive&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    interference.&#8221;&nbsp;The&nbsp;bureau&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    says&nbsp;two&nbsp;Philippine&nbsp;vessels&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    were&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">conducting&nbsp;routine&nbsp;scientific&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    research&nbsp;near&nbsp;a&nbsp;sandbar&nbsp;in&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    the&nbsp;Spratly&nbsp;Islands&nbsp;on&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    Wednesday.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;It&nbsp;says&nbsp;the&nbsp;Chinese&nbsp;ship&nbsp;&#8220;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    water&nbsp;cannoned&nbsp;and&nbsp;sideswiped&#8221;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    &nbsp;one&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;Philippine&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    vessels&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">twice.&nbsp;The&nbsp;Philippine&nbsp;side&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    also&nbsp;says&nbsp;the&nbsp;actions&nbsp;damaged&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    the&nbsp;vessel&#8217;s&nbsp;port&nbsp;bow&nbsp;and&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">smokestack&nbsp;and&nbsp;endangered&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    lives&nbsp;of&nbsp;civilian&nbsp;personnel&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    onboard.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;Philippine&nbsp;officials&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    released&nbsp;a&nbsp;video&nbsp;that&nbsp;they&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    say&nbsp;shows&nbsp;the&nbsp;Chinese&nbsp;ship&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    approaching&nbsp;the<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">Philippine&nbsp;vessel&nbsp;from&nbsp;behind&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    before&nbsp;colliding&nbsp;and&nbsp;firing&nbsp;a&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    water&nbsp;cannon.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;The&nbsp;Philippines&nbsp;says&nbsp;this&nbsp;&#8220;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    marks&nbsp;the&nbsp;first&nbsp;time&nbsp;water&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    cannons&nbsp;have&nbsp;been&nbsp;used&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    against&#8221;&nbsp;the<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp;bureau&#8217;s&nbsp;research&nbsp;vessels&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    around&nbsp;the&nbsp;sandbar.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;The&nbsp;area&nbsp;lies&nbsp;between&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    Philippine-controlled&nbsp;island&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    of&nbsp;Thitu&nbsp;and&nbsp;Subi&nbsp;Reef&nbsp;where China<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">built&nbsp;an&nbsp;artificial&nbsp;island.&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    The&nbsp;waters&nbsp;are&nbsp;claimed&nbsp;by&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    Philippines,&nbsp;China&nbsp;and&nbsp;other&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    parties.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;A&nbsp;China&nbsp;Coast&nbsp;Guard&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    spokesperson&nbsp;says&nbsp;its&nbsp;ship&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    responded&nbsp;in&nbsp;accordance&nbsp;with&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    the&nbsp;law&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">after&nbsp;the&nbsp;two&nbsp;Philippine&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    vessels&nbsp;illegally&nbsp;landed&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    personnel&nbsp;on&nbsp;the&nbsp;sandbar.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;The&nbsp;official&nbsp;says&nbsp;one&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    Philippine&nbsp;vessels&nbsp;ignored&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    repeated&nbsp;warnings&nbsp;from&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    Chinese<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">side,&nbsp;got&nbsp;dangerously&nbsp;close&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    to&nbsp;the&nbsp;Chinese&nbsp;ship&nbsp;and&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    scraped&nbsp;against&nbsp;it.&nbsp;The&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    official&nbsp;adds&nbsp;that&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">the&nbsp;Philippine&nbsp;side&nbsp;is&nbsp;fully&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    responsible&nbsp;for&nbsp;the&nbsp;incident.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\"><b><span style=\"color:rgb(35,34,228)\">NHK World (English)<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table valign=\"top\" width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"width:100%!important;width:100%;table-layout:fixed\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"*\" height=\"*\">\n<div style=\"text-align:left;word-break:break-word;font-family:&quot;Meiryo UI&quot;,Meiryo,&quot;MS PGothic&quot;,Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:1.8;width:578px\"><a style=\"color:rgb(51,122,183)\" href=\"https:\/\/www3.nhk.or.jp\/nhkworld\/en\/news\/20250523_01\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?hl=ja&amp;q=https:\/\/www3.nhk.or.jp\/nhkworld\/en\/news\/20250523_01\/index.html&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1749195606900000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1wYdY5n70ChbHqR9CDcrVJ\" rel=\"noopener\"><span><span>https:\/\/www3.nhk.or.jp\/<wbr><br \/>\n                                                  nhkworld\/en\/news\/20250523_01\/<wbr><br \/>\n                                                  index.html<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" style=\"border-top: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; background: #a5e9ff; padding: 3.75pt 13.5pt 3.75pt 13.5pt;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color: #202020;\">5\/23<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: none; border-top: solid white 1.0pt; background: #eeeeee; padding: 3.75pt;\">\n<div>\n<table valign=\"top\" width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"width:100%!important;width:100%;table-layout:fixed\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"*\" height=\"*\">\n<div id=\"m_-2284164846401345931m_2496459185264206619fc-id-143\">\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">Monthly&nbsp;Statistics&nbsp;on&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    Scrambles\uff08April\uff09<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;Japan&nbsp;Joint&nbsp;Staff&nbsp;released&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    its&nbsp;monthly&nbsp;statistics&nbsp;on&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    scrambles.&nbsp;In&nbsp;April,&nbsp;Japan&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    Air&nbsp;Self&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">Defense&nbsp;Force&nbsp;(JASDF)&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    conducted&nbsp;66&nbsp;scrambles.&nbsp;The&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    most&nbsp;scrambles&nbsp;are&nbsp;against&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    Chinese&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">aircrafts&nbsp;(43&nbsp;times).&nbsp;The&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    others&nbsp;were&nbsp;against&nbsp;Russian&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    aircrafts&nbsp;(22&nbsp;times)&nbsp;and&nbsp;so&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    on.<br \/>\n                                                    <b><\/b><span style=\"color:rgb(35,34,228)\"><b>J<\/b><b>apan&nbsp;Joint&nbsp;Staff<\/b><\/span><b><\/b><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table valign=\"top\" width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"width:100%!important;width:100%;table-layout:fixed\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"*\" height=\"*\">\n<div style=\"text-align:left;word-break:break-word;font-family:&quot;Meiryo UI&quot;,Meiryo,&quot;MS PGothic&quot;,Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:1.8;width:578px\"><a style=\"color:rgb(51,122,183)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mod.go.jp\/js\/pdf\/2025\/p20250523_05.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?hl=ja&amp;q=https:\/\/www.mod.go.jp\/js\/pdf\/2025\/p20250523_05.pdf&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1749195606900000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1rOaq9UpUipHR2DL84JRLc\" rel=\"noopener\"><span><span>https:\/\/www.mod.go.jp\/js\/pdf\/<wbr><br \/>\n                                                  2025\/p20250523_05.pdf<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" style=\"border-top: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; background: #a5e9ff; padding: 3.75pt 13.5pt 3.75pt 13.5pt;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color: #202020;\">5\/25<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: none; border-top: solid white 1.0pt; background: #eeeeee; padding: 3.75pt;\">\n<div>\n<table valign=\"top\" width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"width:100%!important;width:100%;table-layout:fixed\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"*\" height=\"*\">\n<div id=\"m_-2284164846401345931m_2496459185264206619fc-id-144\">\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;JMSDF&nbsp;confirmed&nbsp;five&nbsp;Chinese&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    naval&nbsp;vessels,&nbsp;one&nbsp;Admiral&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    Kuznetsov&nbsp;class&nbsp;aircraft&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    carrier<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">Liaoning&nbsp;(hull&nbsp;number&nbsp;16),&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    two&nbsp;Luyang&nbsp;III&nbsp;class&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    destroyer&nbsp;(hull&nbsp;number&nbsp;121&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    and&nbsp;122),&nbsp;two<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">Jangkai&nbsp;II&nbsp;class&nbsp;frigate&nbsp;(<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    hull&nbsp;number&nbsp;515&nbsp;and&nbsp;599),&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    sailing&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;waters&nbsp;200&nbsp;km&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    north&nbsp;of&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">Kubajima&nbsp;Island&nbsp;(Okinawa&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    Prefecture)&nbsp;on&nbsp;May&nbsp;25.&nbsp;On&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    same&nbsp;day,&nbsp;the&nbsp;Liaoning&nbsp;(hull&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">number&nbsp;16)&nbsp;was&nbsp;confirmed&nbsp;to&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    have&nbsp;made&nbsp;landings&nbsp;and&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    takeoffs&nbsp;by&nbsp;fighter&nbsp;aircrafts&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    and<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">helicopters.<br \/>\n                                                    &nbsp; &nbsp;Japan&nbsp;Air&nbsp;Self-Defense&nbsp;Force&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    scrambled&nbsp;to&nbsp;them.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table valign=\"top\" width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"width:100%!important;width:100%;table-layout:fixed\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"*\" height=\"*\">\n<div style=\"text-align:center;text-align:-webkit-center\"><img width=\"250\" style=\"display:block;margin:0 auto;vertical-align:top;max-width:100%;height:auto;width:auto\" src=\"https:\/\/ci3.googleusercontent.com\/meips\/ADKq_Naf4ODxdY_dR320IVAXUtXXucX21kQHUnVzXkIFayeD1we7IdJ0Ya6TLcU3QFspx9Ckkezr4uwikl3EJU9zcKKepk2FGLt1BggalMQb11s1_Bo6z6wJmkkfC7Qq3zQcRDOZbZ0=s0-d-e1-ft#https:\/\/gy53-cdn.asp.cuenote.jp\/0000013c\/202505\/000196bd\/000a-11a58c723576.png\"><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table valign=\"top\" width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"width:100%!important;width:100%;table-layout:fixed\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"*\" height=\"*\">\n<div id=\"m_-2284164846401345931m_2496459185264206619fc-id-145\">\n<p style=\"margin:0px\"><b><span style=\"color:rgb(35,34,228)\">Japan Joint Staff&nbsp;<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table valign=\"top\" width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"width:100%!important;width:100%;table-layout:fixed\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"*\" height=\"*\">\n<div style=\"text-align:left;word-break:break-word;font-family:&quot;Meiryo UI&quot;,Meiryo,&quot;MS PGothic&quot;,Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:1.8;width:578px\"><a style=\"color:rgb(51,122,183)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mod.go.jp\/js\/pdf\/2025\/p20250525_01.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?hl=ja&amp;q=https:\/\/www.mod.go.jp\/js\/pdf\/2025\/p20250525_01.pdf&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1749195606900000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3PoDtKHWJ9kMGQep9CriEc\" rel=\"noopener\"><span><span>https:\/\/www.mod.go.jp\/js\/pdf\/<wbr><br \/>\n                                                  2025\/p20250525_01.pdf<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" style=\"border-top: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; background: #a5e9ff; padding: 3.75pt 13.5pt 3.75pt 13.5pt;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color: #202020;\">5\/26<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: none; border-top: solid white 1.0pt; background: #eeeeee; padding: 3.75pt;\">\n<div>\n<table valign=\"top\" width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"width:100%!important;width:100%;table-layout:fixed\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"*\" height=\"*\">\n<div id=\"m_-2284164846401345931m_2496459185264206619fc-id-146\">\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;The&nbsp;US&nbsp;Marine&nbsp;Corps&nbsp;will&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    carry&nbsp;out&nbsp;a&nbsp;live-fire&nbsp;drill&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    using&nbsp;the&nbsp;cutting-edge&nbsp;NMESIS&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    anti-ship&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">missile&nbsp;system&nbsp;during&nbsp;joint&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    exercises&nbsp;with&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    Philippines&nbsp;for&nbsp;the&nbsp;first&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    time.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;The&nbsp;two&nbsp;countries&#8217;&nbsp;Marines&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    started&nbsp;the&nbsp;annual&nbsp;event&nbsp;in&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    the&nbsp;Philippines&nbsp;on&nbsp;Monday.&nbsp;A&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    news<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">conference&nbsp;was&nbsp;held&nbsp;at&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    Philippine&nbsp;Marine&nbsp;Corps&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    headquarters&nbsp;in&nbsp;Manila.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;Commandant&nbsp;Arturo&nbsp;Rojas&nbsp;said&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    there&nbsp;will&nbsp;be&nbsp;a&nbsp;live-fire&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    drill&nbsp;using&nbsp;NMESIS&nbsp;during a&nbsp;counter&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">landing&nbsp;exercise,&nbsp;along&nbsp;with&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    simulations.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;The&nbsp;system&nbsp;uses&nbsp;remotely&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    operated&nbsp;unmanned&nbsp;vehicles&nbsp;to&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    launch&nbsp;anti-ship&nbsp;missiles&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    with&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">a&nbsp;range&nbsp;of&nbsp;over&nbsp;180&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    kilometers.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;A&nbsp;US&nbsp;official&nbsp;said&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    system&nbsp;will&nbsp;enhance&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    Philippines&#8217;&nbsp;defense&nbsp;and&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    allow&nbsp;the&nbsp;country&nbsp;to<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">modernize&nbsp;its&nbsp;military.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;The&nbsp;live-fire&nbsp;drill&nbsp;may&nbsp;draw&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    a&nbsp;sharp&nbsp;reaction&nbsp;by&nbsp;China&nbsp;as&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    it&nbsp;will&nbsp;be&nbsp;held&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    Philippines&#8217;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">northern part&nbsp;of&nbsp;Luzon&nbsp;island,&nbsp;near&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    Taiwan.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;The&nbsp;joint&nbsp;exercises&nbsp;will&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    take&nbsp;place&nbsp;across&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    Philippines&nbsp;through&nbsp;June&nbsp;6,&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    with&nbsp;more&nbsp;than&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">4,000&nbsp;US&nbsp;and&nbsp;Philippine&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    personnel&nbsp;taking&nbsp;part.&nbsp;They&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    will&nbsp;also&nbsp;be&nbsp;joined&nbsp;by&nbsp;other&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    countries&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">including&nbsp;Japan&nbsp;and&nbsp;South&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    Korea.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\"><b><span style=\"color:rgb(35,34,228)\">NHK&nbsp;World&nbsp;(English)<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table valign=\"top\" width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"width:100%!important;width:100%;table-layout:fixed\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"*\" height=\"*\">\n<div style=\"text-align:left;word-break:break-word;font-family:&quot;Meiryo UI&quot;,Meiryo,&quot;MS PGothic&quot;,Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:1.8;width:578px\"><a style=\"color:rgb(51,122,183)\" href=\"https:\/\/www3.nhk.or.jp\/nhkworld\/en\/news\/20250526_19\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?hl=ja&amp;q=https:\/\/www3.nhk.or.jp\/nhkworld\/en\/news\/20250526_19\/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1749195606900000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3B8rvX4N42UM87g_qm5UF8\" rel=\"noopener\"><span><span>https:\/\/www3.nhk.or.jp\/<wbr><br \/>\n                                                  nhkworld\/en\/news\/20250526_19\/<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" style=\"border-top: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; background: #a5e9ff; padding: 3.75pt 13.5pt 3.75pt 13.5pt;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color: #202020;\">5\/27<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: none; border-top: solid white 1.0pt; background: #eeeeee; padding: 3.75pt;\">\n<div>\n<table valign=\"top\" width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"width:100%!important;width:100%;table-layout:fixed\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"*\" height=\"*\">\n<div id=\"m_-2284164846401345931m_2496459185264206619fc-id-147\">\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;On&nbsp;the&nbsp;evening&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;26th,&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    a&nbsp;Chinese&nbsp;oceanographic&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    research&nbsp;vessel&nbsp;was&nbsp;confirmed&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">operating&nbsp;without&nbsp;Japan\u2019s&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    prior&nbsp;consent&nbsp;in&nbsp;Japan\u2019s&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    exclusive&nbsp;economic&nbsp;zone&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    around&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">Okinotorishima&nbsp;Island,&nbsp;Japan&#8217;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    s&nbsp;southernmost&nbsp;island.&nbsp;The&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    research&nbsp;vessel&nbsp;has&nbsp;since&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    moved&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">out&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;Japanese&nbsp;exclusive&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    economic&nbsp;zone,&nbsp;but Japan&nbsp;Coast&nbsp;Guard&nbsp;will&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    continue to&nbsp;be&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">on&nbsp;the&nbsp;lookout&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;area.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;According&nbsp;to&nbsp;the&nbsp;3rd&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    Regional&nbsp;Coast&nbsp;Guard&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    Headquarters,&nbsp;at&nbsp;around&nbsp;5:40&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    p.m.&nbsp;on&nbsp;the&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">26th,&nbsp;a&nbsp;Japan&nbsp;Coast&nbsp;Guard&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    aircraft&nbsp;on&nbsp;alert&nbsp;spotted&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    Chinese&nbsp;oceanographic&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    research&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">vessel&nbsp;\u201cJiageng\u201d&nbsp;navigating&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    in&nbsp;Japan&#8217;s&nbsp;exclusive&nbsp;economic&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    zone,&nbsp;approximately&nbsp;270&nbsp;km&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">east&nbsp;of&nbsp;Okinotorishima&nbsp;Island,<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    &nbsp;with&nbsp;a&nbsp;wire-like&nbsp;object&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    extending&nbsp;into&nbsp;the&nbsp;sea.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;The&nbsp;JCG&nbsp;aircraft&nbsp;radioed&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    research&nbsp;vessel&nbsp;in&nbsp;Japanese&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    and&nbsp;Chinese,&nbsp;demanding&nbsp;that&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">it&nbsp;cease&nbsp;its&nbsp;activities,&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    saying,&nbsp;&#8220;Survey&nbsp;activities&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    without&nbsp;prior&nbsp;consent&nbsp;are&nbsp;not&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    allowed\u201d.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;The&nbsp;research&nbsp;vessel&nbsp;left&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    Japan\u2019s&nbsp;exclusive&nbsp;economic&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    zone&nbsp;about&nbsp;5&nbsp;hours&nbsp;later,&nbsp;and&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    the<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">Japan&nbsp;Coast&nbsp;Guard&nbsp;will&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    continue&nbsp;to&nbsp;monitor&nbsp;the&nbsp;area.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;According&nbsp;to&nbsp;the&nbsp;3rd&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    Regional&nbsp;Coast&nbsp;Guard&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    Headquarters,&nbsp;this&nbsp;is&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    ninth&nbsp;time&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">past&nbsp;10&nbsp;years&nbsp;since&nbsp;January&nbsp;1&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    last&nbsp;year&nbsp;that&nbsp;a&nbsp;Chinese&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    oceanographic&nbsp;research&nbsp;vessel&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    has&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">conducted&nbsp;activities&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    exclusive&nbsp;economic&nbsp;zone&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    around&nbsp;Okinotorishima&nbsp;Island&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    without&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">prior&nbsp;consent.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\"><b><span style=\"color:rgb(35,34,228)\">NHK&nbsp;News&nbsp;(Japanese)<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table valign=\"top\" width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"width:100%!important;width:100%;table-layout:fixed\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"*\" height=\"*\">\n<div style=\"text-align:left;word-break:break-word;font-family:&quot;Meiryo UI&quot;,Meiryo,&quot;MS PGothic&quot;,Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:1.8;width:578px\"><a style=\"color:rgb(51,122,183)\" href=\"https:\/\/www3.nhk.or.jp\/news\/html\/20250527\/k10014817471000.html\" target=\"_blank\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?hl=ja&amp;q=https:\/\/www3.nhk.or.jp\/news\/html\/20250527\/k10014817471000.html&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1749195606901000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0xrh3_BUkGi12dSM15j4aM\" rel=\"noopener\"><span><span>https:\/\/www3.nhk.or.jp\/news\/<wbr><br \/>\n                                                  html\/20250527\/k10014817471000.<wbr><br \/>\n                                                  html<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" style=\"border-top: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; background: #a5e9ff; padding: 3.75pt 13.5pt 3.75pt 13.5pt;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color: #202020;\">5\/27<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: none; border-top: solid white 1.0pt; background: #eeeeee; padding: 3.75pt;\">\n<div>\n<table valign=\"top\" width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"width:100%!important;width:100%;table-layout:fixed\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"*\" height=\"*\">\n<div id=\"m_-2284164846401345931m_2496459185264206619fc-id-148\">\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;Chief&nbsp;Cabinet&nbsp;Secretary&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    Yoshimasa&nbsp;Hayashi&nbsp;announced&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    at&nbsp;a&nbsp;press&nbsp;conference&nbsp;on&nbsp;May&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    27&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">that&nbsp;he&nbsp;had&nbsp;protested&nbsp;through&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    diplomatic&nbsp;channels&nbsp;against&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    the&nbsp;activities&nbsp;of&nbsp;a&nbsp;Chinese&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">oceanographic&nbsp;research&nbsp;vessel&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    in&nbsp;Japan&#8217;s&nbsp;Exclusive&nbsp;Economic&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    Zone&nbsp;(EEZ).&nbsp;The&nbsp;protest&nbsp;is&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">dated&nbsp;May&nbsp;26.&nbsp;During&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    protest,&nbsp;the&nbsp;Japanese&nbsp;side&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    told&nbsp;the&nbsp;Chinese&nbsp;side&nbsp;that&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    scientific&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">research&nbsp;in&nbsp;Japan&#8217;s&nbsp;EEZ&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    without&nbsp;Japanese&nbsp;consent&nbsp;is&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    not&nbsp;acceptable&nbsp;and&nbsp;should&nbsp;be&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    stopped&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">immediately.<br \/>\n                                                    &nbsp; &nbsp;On&nbsp;the&nbsp;26th,&nbsp;Japan&nbsp;Coast&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    Guard&nbsp;confirmed&nbsp;that&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    Chinese&nbsp;oceanographic&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    research&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">vessel&nbsp;\u201cJiageng\u201d&nbsp;was&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    extending&nbsp;a&nbsp;wire-like&nbsp;object&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    into&nbsp;the&nbsp;sea&nbsp;within&nbsp;Japan&#8217;s&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    EEZ, about&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">270&nbsp;km&nbsp;east&nbsp;of&nbsp;Okinotorishima.<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    &nbsp;The&nbsp;Jiageng&nbsp;left&nbsp;the&nbsp;EEZ&nbsp;on&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    the&nbsp;same&nbsp;day.<br \/>\n                                                    <b><span style=\"color:rgb(35,34,228)\">Nikkei&nbsp;Shimbun&nbsp;News&nbsp;(Japanese)<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table valign=\"top\" width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"width:100%!important;width:100%;table-layout:fixed\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"*\" height=\"*\">\n<div style=\"text-align:left;word-break:break-word;font-family:&quot;Meiryo UI&quot;,Meiryo,&quot;MS PGothic&quot;,Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:1.8;width:578px\"><a style=\"color:rgb(51,122,183)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nikkei.com\/article\/DGXZQOUA271AA0X20C25A5000000\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?hl=ja&amp;q=https:\/\/www.nikkei.com\/article\/DGXZQOUA271AA0X20C25A5000000\/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1749195606901000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2iKUGRP0kIT3SUQsDVFc7j\" rel=\"noopener\"><span><span>https:\/\/www.nikkei.com\/<wbr><br \/>\n                                                  article\/<wbr><br \/>\n                                                  DGXZQOUA271AA0X20C25A5000000\/<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" style=\"border-top: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; background: #a5e9ff; padding: 3.75pt 13.5pt 3.75pt 13.5pt;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color: #202020;\">5\/27<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: none; border-top: solid white 1.0pt; background: #eeeeee; padding: 3.75pt;\">\n<div>\n<table valign=\"top\" width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"width:100%!important;width:100%;table-layout:fixed\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"*\" height=\"*\">\n<div id=\"m_-2284164846401345931m_2496459185264206619fc-id-149\">\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;Regarding&nbsp;the&nbsp;confirmed&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    activities&nbsp;of&nbsp;a&nbsp;Chinese&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    oceanographic&nbsp;research&nbsp;vessel&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    in&nbsp;Japan&#8217;s&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">exclusive&nbsp;economic&nbsp;zone&nbsp;(EEZ)&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    east&nbsp;of&nbsp;Okinotorishima&nbsp;Island,<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    &nbsp;Mao&nbsp;Ning,&nbsp;head&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;press&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">bureau&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;Chinese&nbsp;Foreign&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    Ministry,&nbsp;said&nbsp;at&nbsp;a&nbsp;press&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    conference&nbsp;on&nbsp;May&nbsp;27,&nbsp;&#8220;Japan&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    has&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">no&nbsp;right&nbsp;to&nbsp;interfere.&nbsp;The&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    Japanese&nbsp;government&nbsp;protested&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    to&nbsp;China&nbsp;because&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">unauthorized&nbsp;activities&nbsp;of&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    the&nbsp;research&nbsp;vessel,&nbsp;but&nbsp;this&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    is&nbsp;a&nbsp;position&nbsp;it&nbsp;will&nbsp;not&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    accept.<br \/>\n                                                    &nbsp; &nbsp;Spokesman&nbsp;Mao&nbsp;reiterated&nbsp;her&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    previous&nbsp;assertion that Japan&#8217;s EEZ around Okinotorishima<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">is not recognized because &#8220;it is not an island but a reef&#8221;, and&nbsp;said&nbsp;that&nbsp;&#8220;the&nbsp;survey&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    ship&#8217;s<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">activities&nbsp;are&nbsp;an&nbsp;exercise&nbsp;of&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    freedom&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;high&nbsp;seas\u201d.&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    She&nbsp;also&nbsp;did&nbsp;not&nbsp;clarify&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    content&nbsp;of&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">the&nbsp;survey.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\"><b><span style=\"color:rgb(35,34,228)\">JIJI&nbsp;Press&nbsp;News&nbsp;(Japanese)<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table valign=\"top\" width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"width:100%!important;width:100%;table-layout:fixed\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"*\" height=\"*\">\n<div style=\"text-align:left;word-break:break-word;font-family:&quot;Meiryo UI&quot;,Meiryo,&quot;MS PGothic&quot;,Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:1.8;width:578px\"><a style=\"color:rgb(51,122,183)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.jiji.com\/jc\/article?k=2025052700828&amp;g=int\" target=\"_blank\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?hl=ja&amp;q=https:\/\/www.jiji.com\/jc\/article?k%3D2025052700828%26g%3Dint&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1749195606901000&amp;usg=AOvVaw01H0owxK_gw8Ybof_Xas2l\" rel=\"noopener\"><span><span>https:\/\/www.jiji.com\/jc\/<wbr><br \/>\n                                                  article?k=2025052700828&amp;g=int<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" style=\"border-top: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; background: #a5e9ff; padding: 3.75pt 13.5pt 3.75pt 13.5pt;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color: #202020;\">5\/27<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: none; border-top: solid white 1.0pt; background: #eeeeee; padding: 3.75pt;\">\n<div>\n<table valign=\"top\" width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"width:100%!important;width:100%;table-layout:fixed\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"*\" height=\"*\">\n<div id=\"m_-2284164846401345931m_2496459185264206619fc-id-150\">\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;JMSDF&nbsp;confirmed&nbsp;one&nbsp;Chinese&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    Renhai&nbsp;class&nbsp;destroyer&nbsp;(hull&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    number&nbsp;104)&nbsp;and&nbsp;one&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">Luyang&nbsp;III&nbsp;class&nbsp;destroyer&nbsp;(<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    hull&nbsp;number&nbsp;121)&nbsp;sailing&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    southeast&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;waters&nbsp;140km&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">northeast&nbsp;of&nbsp;Miyakojima&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    Island&nbsp;(Okinawa&nbsp;Prefecture)&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    on&nbsp;May&nbsp;26.&nbsp;JMSDF&nbsp;then&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    confirmed&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">these&nbsp;vessels&nbsp;sailing&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    southeast&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;waters&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    between&nbsp;the&nbsp;main&nbsp;island&nbsp;of&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    Okinawa&nbsp;and&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">Miyakojima&nbsp;Island&nbsp;to&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    Pacific&nbsp;Ocean.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table valign=\"top\" width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"width:100%!important;width:100%;table-layout:fixed\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"*\" height=\"*\">\n<div style=\"text-align:center;text-align:-webkit-center\"><img width=\"243\" style=\"display:block;margin:0 auto;vertical-align:top;max-width:100%;height:auto;width:auto\" src=\"https:\/\/ci3.googleusercontent.com\/meips\/ADKq_Nat5cU_y7xxf4msLd01Yn7tLkTost_KmA6ir56JmNwgBKaBPoZeWoEeWO0Ph1DOCaBgeC4ZKh4OQEmeGViEFGt5w8AtqdnEY4VzGw6-ExkITwrnIkE-TLCHG56NMH4GD2ZDeaU=s0-d-e1-ft#https:\/\/gy53-cdn.asp.cuenote.jp\/0000013c\/202505\/000196bd\/000b-9b2300dc8bd9.png\"><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table valign=\"top\" width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"width:100%!important;width:100%;table-layout:fixed\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"*\" height=\"*\">\n<div id=\"m_-2284164846401345931m_2496459185264206619fc-id-151\">\n<p style=\"margin:0px\"><b><span style=\"color:rgb(35,34,228)\">Japan Joint Staff&nbsp;<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table valign=\"top\" width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"width:100%!important;width:100%;table-layout:fixed\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"*\" height=\"*\">\n<div style=\"text-align:left;word-break:break-word;font-family:&quot;Meiryo UI&quot;,Meiryo,&quot;MS PGothic&quot;,Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:1.8;width:578px\"><a style=\"color:rgb(51,122,183)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mod.go.jp\/js\/pdf\/2025\/p20250527_01.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?hl=ja&amp;q=https:\/\/www.mod.go.jp\/js\/pdf\/2025\/p20250527_01.pdf&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1749195606901000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1Rw0ZGXXxNEAf3zxBCsjQl\" rel=\"noopener\"><span><span>https:\/\/www.mod.go.jp\/js\/pdf\/<wbr><br \/>\n                                                  2025\/p20250527_01.pdf<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" style=\"border-top: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; background: #a5e9ff; padding: 3.75pt 13.5pt 3.75pt 13.5pt;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color: #202020;\">5\/27<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: none; border-top: solid white 1.0pt; background: #eeeeee; padding: 3.75pt;\">\n<div>\n<table valign=\"top\" width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"width:100%!important;width:100%;table-layout:fixed\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"*\" height=\"*\">\n<div id=\"m_-2284164846401345931m_2496459185264206619fc-id-152\">\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;From&nbsp;May&nbsp;25&nbsp;to&nbsp;26,&nbsp;JMSDF&nbsp;has&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    confirmed&nbsp;Chinese&nbsp;naval&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    vessels&nbsp;including&nbsp;the&nbsp;&nbsp;Admiral<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">Kuznetsov&nbsp;class&nbsp;aircraft&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    carrier&nbsp;Liaoning&nbsp;(hull&nbsp;number&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    16)&nbsp;navigating&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;East&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    China&nbsp;Sea&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">as&nbsp;the&nbsp;below&nbsp;table&nbsp;and&nbsp;chart.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table valign=\"top\" width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"width:100%!important;width:100%;table-layout:fixed\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"*\" height=\"*\">\n<div style=\"text-align:center;text-align:-webkit-center\"><img width=\"578\" style=\"display:block;margin:0 auto;vertical-align:top;max-width:100%;height:auto;width:auto\" src=\"https:\/\/ci3.googleusercontent.com\/meips\/ADKq_NbabjVHUdvzfyQM5vwjSjT6GSLtcUz2pgHoaOXd3SGnYFgZ9eCoMc41ka6XhkfkjeJzsBDUSPfEsey1LbXpWiXno8mb-T4I84CngvCaIyH3kF54FthZ0rLyS9OyBxGpvcCNPiU=s0-d-e1-ft#https:\/\/gy53-cdn.asp.cuenote.jp\/0000013c\/202505\/000196bd\/000c-601361e2a621.png\"><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table valign=\"top\" width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"width:100%!important;width:100%;table-layout:fixed\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"*\" height=\"*\">\n<div id=\"m_-2284164846401345931m_2496459185264206619fc-id-153\">\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">\n                                                  <\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;During&nbsp;this&nbsp;period,&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    Liaoning&nbsp;(hull&nbsp;number&nbsp;16)&nbsp;was&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    confirmed&nbsp;to&nbsp;have&nbsp;made&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">approximately&nbsp;120&nbsp;landings&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    and&nbsp;takeoffs,&nbsp;including&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    approximately&nbsp;90&nbsp;by&nbsp;fighter&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    aircraft&nbsp;and<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">30&nbsp;by&nbsp;helicopters.<br \/>\n                                                    &nbsp; &nbsp;On&nbsp;May&nbsp;27,&nbsp;JMSDF&nbsp;confirmed&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    the&nbsp;Admiral&nbsp;Kuznetsov&nbsp;class&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    aircraft&nbsp;carrier&nbsp;Liaoning<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">(hull&nbsp;number&nbsp;16)&nbsp;and&nbsp;one&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    Renhai&nbsp;class&nbsp;destroyer&nbsp;(hull&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    number&nbsp;101)&nbsp;sailing&nbsp;southeast&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    in&nbsp;the<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">waters&nbsp;between&nbsp;the&nbsp;main&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    island&nbsp;of&nbsp;Okinawa&nbsp;and&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    Miyakojima&nbsp;Island&nbsp;to&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    Pacific&nbsp;Ocean.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;Then,&nbsp;on&nbsp;the&nbsp;same&nbsp;day,&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    Liaoning&nbsp;(hull&nbsp;number&nbsp;16)&nbsp;was&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    confirmed&nbsp;to&nbsp;have&nbsp;made&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">landings&nbsp;and&nbsp;takeoffs&nbsp;by&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    fighter&nbsp;aircrafts&nbsp;and&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    helicopters&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;waters&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    190km&nbsp;southeast<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">of&nbsp;Miyakojima&nbsp;Island&nbsp;(Okinawa&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    Prefecture).&nbsp;<br \/>\n                                                    &nbsp; &nbsp;Japan&nbsp;Air&nbsp;Self-Defense&nbsp;Force&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    scrambled&nbsp;to&nbsp;them.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table valign=\"top\" width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"width:100%!important;width:100%;table-layout:fixed\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"*\" height=\"*\">\n<div style=\"text-align:center;text-align:-webkit-center\"><img width=\"205\" style=\"display:block;margin:0 auto;vertical-align:top;max-width:100%;height:auto;width:auto\" src=\"https:\/\/ci3.googleusercontent.com\/meips\/ADKq_NYb8tKZ9krVHzsqofiJcvtgudXbLYFIUTNuaps9tsZJfl2WQwC4aeIFdO_9G5NCYnnxtFJTq56sRwE72DtzOymfstPOtER_PkBI3bY0Uo01KyxCWH6hLi5YcfUWqCoYQIQvqis=s0-d-e1-ft#https:\/\/gy53-cdn.asp.cuenote.jp\/0000013c\/202505\/000196bd\/000d-70b78a995f62.png\"><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table valign=\"top\" width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"width:100%!important;width:100%;table-layout:fixed\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"*\" height=\"*\">\n<div id=\"m_-2284164846401345931m_2496459185264206619fc-id-154\">\n<p style=\"margin:0px\"><b><span style=\"color:rgb(35,34,228)\">Japan Joint Staff&nbsp;<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table valign=\"top\" width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"width:100%!important;width:100%;table-layout:fixed\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"*\" height=\"*\">\n<div style=\"text-align:left;word-break:break-word;font-family:&quot;Meiryo UI&quot;,Meiryo,&quot;MS PGothic&quot;,Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:1.8;width:578px\"><a style=\"color:rgb(51,122,183)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mod.go.jp\/js\/pdf\/2025\/p20250527_02.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?hl=ja&amp;q=https:\/\/www.mod.go.jp\/js\/pdf\/2025\/p20250527_02.pdf&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1749195606901000&amp;usg=AOvVaw29KIeKxrK8EmlZPnJIJJ5a\" rel=\"noopener\"><span><span>https:\/\/www.mod.go.jp\/js\/pdf\/<wbr><br \/>\n                                                  2025\/p20250527_02.pdf<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" style=\"border-top: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; background: #a5e9ff; padding: 3.75pt 13.5pt 3.75pt 13.5pt;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color: #202020;\">5\/28<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: none; border-top: solid white 1.0pt; background: #eeeeee; padding: 3.75pt;\">\n<div>\n<table valign=\"top\" width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"width:100%!important;width:100%;table-layout:fixed\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"*\" height=\"*\">\n<div id=\"m_-2284164846401345931m_2496459185264206619fc-id-155\">\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">Press&nbsp;Release&nbsp;by&nbsp;Japan&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    Ministry&nbsp;of&nbsp;Foreign&nbsp;Affairs&nbsp;(<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    excerpt)<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">Japan-Philippines&nbsp;Foreign&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    Ministers&#8217;&nbsp;Meeting&nbsp;and&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    Working&nbsp;Lunch<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">\n                                                  <\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;On&nbsp;May&nbsp;28,&nbsp;from&nbsp;1:00&nbsp;p.m.&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    for&nbsp;approximately&nbsp;100&nbsp;minutes,<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    &nbsp;Foreign&nbsp;Minister&nbsp;Takeshi&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    Iwaya<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">held&nbsp;a&nbsp;Japan-Philippines&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    Foreign&nbsp;Ministers&#8217;&nbsp;Meeting&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    and&nbsp;Working&nbsp;Lunch&nbsp;with&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">Hon.&nbsp;Enrique&nbsp;A.&nbsp;Manalo,&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    Secretary&nbsp;for&nbsp;Foreign&nbsp;Affairs&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    of&nbsp;the&nbsp;Republic&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    Philippines,&nbsp;who<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">was&nbsp;visiting&nbsp;Japan.&nbsp;The&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    following&nbsp;is&nbsp;a&nbsp;summary&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    meeting.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">\n                                                  <\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">1&nbsp;Opening&nbsp;Remarks<br \/>\n                                                    (1)&nbsp;Minister&nbsp;Iwaya&nbsp;stated&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    that&nbsp;through&nbsp;the&nbsp;Japan-<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    Philippines&nbsp;Summit&nbsp;Meeting&nbsp;in&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    April&nbsp;this&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">year, Japan&nbsp;has&nbsp;been&nbsp;able&nbsp;to&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    further&nbsp;strengthen&nbsp;its&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    relations&nbsp;with&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    Philippines,&nbsp;a&nbsp;\u201cneighbor\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">connected&nbsp;by&nbsp;the&nbsp;sea,&nbsp;and&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    commended&nbsp;the&nbsp;close&nbsp;bilateral&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    relations&nbsp;that&nbsp;allow&nbsp;for&nbsp;this&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">Foreign&nbsp;Ministers&#8217;&nbsp;Meeting&nbsp;to&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    be&nbsp;held&nbsp;shortly&nbsp;after&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    Summit&nbsp;Meeting.&nbsp;He&nbsp;also&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    stated&nbsp;that<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">our&nbsp;partnership&nbsp;has&nbsp;evolved&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    into&nbsp;a&nbsp;near-alliance&nbsp;status,&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    and&nbsp;we&nbsp;would&nbsp;like&nbsp;to work&nbsp;together<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">to&nbsp;realize&nbsp;a&nbsp;\u201cfree&nbsp;and&nbsp;open&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    Indo-Pacific.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">(2)&nbsp;Foreign&nbsp;Minister&nbsp;Manalo&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    expressed&nbsp;his&nbsp;pleasure&nbsp;at&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    meeting&nbsp;again&nbsp;since&nbsp;Minister&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    Iwaya&#8217;s<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">visit&nbsp;to&nbsp;the&nbsp;Philippines&nbsp;in&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    January.&nbsp;He&nbsp;then&nbsp;stated&nbsp;that&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    although&nbsp;the&nbsp;international&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    situation&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">has&nbsp;been&nbsp;turbulent&nbsp;since&nbsp;then,<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    &nbsp;he&nbsp;highly&nbsp;appreciates&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    further&nbsp;progress&nbsp;in&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    cooperation&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">between&nbsp;the&nbsp;two&nbsp;countries&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    through&nbsp;Prime&nbsp;Minister&nbsp;Ishiba&#8217;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    s&nbsp;visit&nbsp;to&nbsp;the&nbsp;Philippines&nbsp;in&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    April.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">Looking&nbsp;ahead&nbsp;to&nbsp;the&nbsp;70th&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    anniversary&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    normalization&nbsp;of&nbsp;diplomatic&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    relations&nbsp;between<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">Japan&nbsp;and&nbsp;the&nbsp;Philippines&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    next&nbsp;year,&nbsp;he&nbsp;expressed&nbsp;his&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    desire&nbsp;to&nbsp;use&nbsp;this&nbsp;meeting&nbsp;as&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    an&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">opportunity&nbsp;to&nbsp;further&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    strengthen&nbsp;cooperation&nbsp;as&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    partners&nbsp;who&nbsp;share&nbsp;common&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    values&nbsp;and&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">interests.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">\n                                                  <\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">2&nbsp;Bilateral&nbsp;relations<br \/>\n                                                    (1)&nbsp;Regarding&nbsp;security,&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    two&nbsp;foreign&nbsp;ministers&nbsp;held&nbsp;in-<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    depth&nbsp;discussions&nbsp;on&nbsp;further&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">strengthening&nbsp;the&nbsp;foundation&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    for&nbsp;security&nbsp;and&nbsp;defense&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    cooperation,&nbsp;based&nbsp;on&nbsp;last&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    month&#8217;s<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">Summit&nbsp;Meeting.&nbsp;The&nbsp;two&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    foreign&nbsp;ministers&nbsp;commended&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    the&nbsp;start&nbsp;of&nbsp;negotiation&nbsp;on&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    the&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">Japan-Philippines&nbsp;Acquisition&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    and&nbsp;Cross-Servicing&nbsp;Agreement&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    (ACSA),&nbsp;as&nbsp;well&nbsp;as the&nbsp;start&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">of&nbsp;discussions&nbsp;on&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    possibility&nbsp;of&nbsp;concluding&nbsp;a&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    future&nbsp;Agreement&nbsp;on&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    Security&nbsp;of&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">Information&nbsp;following&nbsp;last&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    month&#8217;s&nbsp;Summit&nbsp;Meeting.&nbsp;They&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    also&nbsp;welcomed&nbsp;the&nbsp;steady&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">progress&nbsp;toward&nbsp;the&nbsp;entry&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    into&nbsp;force&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;Japan-<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    Philippines&nbsp;Reciprocal&nbsp;Access&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">Agreement&nbsp;(RAA).&nbsp;Furthermore,&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    Minister&nbsp;Iwaya&nbsp;expressed&nbsp;his&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    desire&nbsp;to&nbsp;further&nbsp;promote<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">cooperation&nbsp;through&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    Official&nbsp;Security&nbsp;Assistance&nbsp;(<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    OSA)&nbsp;for&nbsp;capacity&nbsp;building&nbsp;in&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    the&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">Philippines,&nbsp;and&nbsp;Foreign&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    Secretary&nbsp;Manalo&nbsp;expressed&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    his&nbsp;gratitude&nbsp;for&nbsp;Japan&#8217;s&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    cooperation.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">In&nbsp;addition,&nbsp;the&nbsp;two&nbsp;foreign&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    ministers&nbsp;agreed&nbsp;to&nbsp;hold&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    Maritime&nbsp;Consultations&nbsp;and&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">Vice-Ministerial&nbsp;Strategic&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    Dialogue&nbsp;within&nbsp;this&nbsp;year&nbsp;to&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    share&nbsp;strategic&nbsp;perceptions&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    and&nbsp;further<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">advance&nbsp;cooperation&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    field&nbsp;of&nbsp;security,&nbsp;including&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    the&nbsp;maritime&nbsp;domain.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">\n                                                  <\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">3&nbsp;Regional&nbsp;and&nbsp;International&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    Situation<br \/>\n                                                    (1)&nbsp;The&nbsp;two&nbsp;foreign&nbsp;ministers&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    discussed&nbsp;a&nbsp;wide&nbsp;range&nbsp;of&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    issues,&nbsp;including&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    situation&nbsp;in&nbsp;the<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">East&nbsp;China&nbsp;Sea&nbsp;and&nbsp;South&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    China&nbsp;Sea,&nbsp;Myanmar,&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    Middle&nbsp;East,&nbsp;Russia&#8217;s&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    invasion&nbsp;of&nbsp;Ukraine,<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">North&nbsp;Korea,&nbsp;including&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    nuclear&nbsp;and&nbsp;missile&nbsp;issues&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    and&nbsp;the&nbsp;abduction&nbsp;issue,&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    U.S.&nbsp;tariff&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">measures&nbsp;and&nbsp;its&nbsp;impact&nbsp;on&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    the&nbsp;global&nbsp;economy&nbsp;and&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    multilateral&nbsp;trading&nbsp;system,&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    and&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">cooperation&nbsp;through&nbsp;the&nbsp;Asia&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    Zero&nbsp;Emission&nbsp;Community&nbsp;(AZEC)<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    .&nbsp;Foreign&nbsp;Minister&nbsp;Manalo&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">reiterated&nbsp;his&nbsp;understanding&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    and&nbsp;support&nbsp;regarding&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    abduction&nbsp;issue.<br \/>\n                                                    (2)&nbsp;In&nbsp;this&nbsp;context,&nbsp;the&nbsp;two&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    foreign&nbsp;ministers&nbsp;reaffirmed&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    the&nbsp;importance&nbsp;of&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    coordinating&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">with&nbsp;the&nbsp;United&nbsp;States&nbsp;and&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    other&nbsp;allied&nbsp;and&nbsp;like-minded&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    countries&nbsp;in&nbsp;addressing&nbsp;these&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">challenges&nbsp;and&nbsp;agreed&nbsp;to&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    continue&nbsp;to&nbsp;deepen&nbsp;Japan-<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    Philippines&nbsp;and&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">Japan-Philippines-U.S.&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    cooperation,&nbsp;with&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    continued&nbsp;involvement&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    United States,<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">toward&nbsp;the&nbsp;realization&nbsp;of&nbsp;a&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    free&nbsp;and&nbsp;open&nbsp;Indo-Pacific&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    based&nbsp;on&nbsp;the&nbsp;rule&nbsp;of&nbsp;law.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\"><b><span style=\"color:rgb(35,34,228)\">Ministry&nbsp;of&nbsp;Foreign&nbsp;Affairs<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table valign=\"top\" width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"width:100%!important;width:100%;table-layout:fixed\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"*\" height=\"*\">\n<div style=\"text-align:left;word-break:break-word;font-family:&quot;Meiryo UI&quot;,Meiryo,&quot;MS PGothic&quot;,Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:1.8;width:578px\"><a style=\"color:rgb(51,122,183)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mofa.go.jp\/press\/release\/pressite_000001_01313.html\" target=\"_blank\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?hl=ja&amp;q=https:\/\/www.mofa.go.jp\/press\/release\/pressite_000001_01313.html&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1749195606901000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3QgFArUAwovT1XfMZRwoQG\" rel=\"noopener\"><span><span>https:\/\/www.mofa.go.jp\/press\/<wbr><br \/>\n                                                  release\/pressite_000001_01313.<wbr><br \/>\n                                                  html<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" style=\"border-top: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; background: #a5e9ff; padding: 3.75pt 13.5pt 3.75pt 13.5pt;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color: #202020;\">5\/28<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: none; border-top: solid white 1.0pt; background: #eeeeee; padding: 3.75pt;\">\n<div>\n<table valign=\"top\" width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"width:100%!important;width:100%;table-layout:fixed\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"*\" height=\"*\">\n<div id=\"m_-2284164846401345931m_2496459185264206619fc-id-156\">\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;Satellite&nbsp;imagery&nbsp;shows&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    China&nbsp;landed&nbsp;two&nbsp;of&nbsp;its&nbsp;most&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    advanced&nbsp;bombers&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    disputed&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">Paracel&nbsp;islands&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;South&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    China&nbsp;Sea&nbsp;this&nbsp;month&nbsp;&#8211;&nbsp;a&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    gesture&nbsp;that&nbsp;some&nbsp;analysts&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    described&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">as&nbsp;Beijing&#8217;s&nbsp;latest&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    signalling&nbsp;of&nbsp;its&nbsp;growing&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    military&nbsp;capabilities&nbsp;to&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    rivals.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;The&nbsp;deployment&nbsp;marks&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    first&nbsp;time&nbsp;the&nbsp;long-range&nbsp;H-6&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    bombers&nbsp;have&nbsp;landed&nbsp;on Woody&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">Island&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;Paracels&nbsp;since&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    2020,&nbsp;and&nbsp;the&nbsp;movement&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    now&nbsp;upgraded&nbsp;aircraft&nbsp;comes&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">amid&nbsp;tensions&nbsp;with&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    Philippines,&nbsp;operations&nbsp;near&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    Taiwan&nbsp;and&nbsp;ahead&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    region&#8217;s&nbsp;biggest<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">defence&nbsp;forum&nbsp;this&nbsp;weekend.<br \/>\n                                                    &nbsp; &nbsp;&#8220;China&#8217;s&nbsp;long-range&nbsp;bombers&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    don&#8217;t&nbsp;need&nbsp;to&nbsp;be&nbsp;on&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    Paracels&nbsp;so&nbsp;it&nbsp;does&nbsp;appear&nbsp;to&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    be&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">omni-directional&nbsp;signalling&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    by&nbsp;Beijing&nbsp;&#8211;&nbsp;against&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    Philippines&nbsp;and&nbsp;against&nbsp;the&nbsp;U.<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    S. and&nbsp;other&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">things&nbsp;that&nbsp;are&nbsp;going&nbsp;on,&#8221;&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    said&nbsp;Collin&nbsp;Koh,&nbsp;a&nbsp;defence&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    scholar&nbsp;at&nbsp;Singapore&#8217;s&nbsp;S.&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    Rajaratnam&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">School&nbsp;of&nbsp;International&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    Studies.<br \/>\n                                                    &nbsp; &nbsp;French&nbsp;President&nbsp;Emmanuel&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    Macron&nbsp;is&nbsp;due&nbsp;to&nbsp;open&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    three-day&nbsp;Shangri-La&nbsp;Dialogue&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">forum in&nbsp;Singapore&nbsp;with&nbsp;a&nbsp;speech&nbsp;on&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    Friday&nbsp;while&nbsp;U.S.&nbsp;Defence&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    Secretary&nbsp;Pete&nbsp;Hegseth&nbsp;will<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">outline&nbsp;the&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    administration&#8217;s&nbsp;approach&nbsp;to&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    the&nbsp;region&nbsp;on&nbsp;Saturday.<br \/>\n                                                    &nbsp; &nbsp;A&nbsp;British&nbsp;aircraft&nbsp;carrier&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    is&nbsp;expected&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;South&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    China&nbsp;Sea&nbsp;on&nbsp;a&nbsp;rare&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    deployment&nbsp;next&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">month,&nbsp;diplomats&nbsp;say.&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    Satellites&nbsp;captured&nbsp;two&nbsp;H-6&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    planes&nbsp;flying&nbsp;over&nbsp;the&nbsp;hotly&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    disputed&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">Scarborough&nbsp;Shoal,&nbsp;also&nbsp;in&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    the&nbsp;South&nbsp;China&nbsp;Sea,&nbsp;just&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    ahead&nbsp;of&nbsp;Hegseth&#8217;s&nbsp;visit&nbsp;to&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    the&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">Philippines&nbsp;in&nbsp;late&nbsp;March,&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    when&nbsp;he&nbsp;reaffirmed&nbsp;the&nbsp;United&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    States&#8217;&nbsp;&#8220;ironclad&nbsp;commitment&#8221;&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    to&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">its&nbsp;treaty&nbsp;ally.<br \/>\n                                                    &nbsp; &nbsp;Regional&nbsp;diplomats&nbsp;and&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    analysts&nbsp;say&nbsp;deployments&nbsp;of&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    the&nbsp;jet-powered&nbsp;H-6&nbsp;are&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    closely&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">scrutinised,&nbsp;given&nbsp;the&nbsp;way&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    its&nbsp;Cold&nbsp;War-era&nbsp;airframe&nbsp;has&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    been&nbsp;modernised&nbsp;to&nbsp;carry&nbsp;anti-<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    ship&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">and&nbsp;land&nbsp;attack&nbsp;cruise&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    missiles,&nbsp;while&nbsp;some&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    planes&nbsp;are&nbsp;capable&nbsp;of&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    launching&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">nuclear-tipped&nbsp;ballistic&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    missiles.<br \/>\n                                                    &nbsp; &nbsp;A&nbsp;potential&nbsp;threat&nbsp;to&nbsp;U.S.&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    bases&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;region,&nbsp;H-6&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    bombers&nbsp;were&nbsp;deployed&nbsp;in wargames&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">around&nbsp;Taiwan&nbsp;in&nbsp;October,&nbsp;and&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    in&nbsp;July&nbsp;flew&nbsp;close&nbsp;to&nbsp;the&nbsp;U.S.<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    &nbsp;mainland&nbsp;for&nbsp;the&nbsp;first&nbsp;time.<br \/>\n                                                    Neither&nbsp;China&#8217;s&nbsp;defence&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    ministry&nbsp;nor&nbsp;the&nbsp;Philippines&#8217;&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    maritime&nbsp;and&nbsp;national&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    security&nbsp;council<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">immediately&nbsp;responded&nbsp;to&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    Reuters&#8217;&nbsp;requests&nbsp;for&nbsp;comment.<br \/>\n                                                    &nbsp; &nbsp;China&#8217;s&nbsp;occupation&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    Paracels&nbsp;is&nbsp;disputed&nbsp;by&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    Vietnam,&nbsp;whose&nbsp;foreign&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    ministry&nbsp;also&nbsp;did<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">not&nbsp;immediately&nbsp;respond&nbsp;for&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    comment.<br \/>\n                                                    &nbsp; &nbsp;Echoing&nbsp;the&nbsp;development&nbsp;of&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    the&nbsp;U.S.&nbsp;B-52,&nbsp;the&nbsp;basic&nbsp;H-6&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    dates&nbsp;back&nbsp;to&nbsp;1950s&nbsp;Soviet&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">designs&nbsp;but&nbsp;it&nbsp;remains&nbsp;China&#8217;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    s&nbsp;most&nbsp;advanced&nbsp;long-range&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    bomber&nbsp;having&nbsp;been&nbsp;re-fitted&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    with&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">improved&nbsp;engines&nbsp;and&nbsp;modern&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    flight&nbsp;systems&nbsp;along&nbsp;with&nbsp;its&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    state-of-the-art&nbsp;weaponry.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;Images&nbsp;provided&nbsp;to&nbsp;Reuters&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    by&nbsp;Maxar&nbsp;Technologies&nbsp;show&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    two&nbsp;H-6&nbsp;bombers&nbsp;on a&nbsp;runway&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">on&nbsp;Woody&nbsp;Island&nbsp;on&nbsp;May&nbsp;19.<br \/>\n                                                    &nbsp; &nbsp;Another&nbsp;Maxar&nbsp;image&nbsp;on&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    same&nbsp;date&nbsp;show&nbsp;two&nbsp;Y-20&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    transport&nbsp;aircraft&nbsp;and&nbsp;an&nbsp;KJ-<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    500&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">early&nbsp;warning&nbsp;plane&nbsp;&#8211;&nbsp;an&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    aircraft&nbsp;that&nbsp;is&nbsp;seen&nbsp;as&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    vital&nbsp;to&nbsp;China&nbsp;being&nbsp;able&nbsp;to&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    control&nbsp;and&nbsp;secure<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">increasingly&nbsp;complex&nbsp;air&nbsp;and&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    sea&nbsp;operations.<br \/>\n                                                    &nbsp; &nbsp;Some&nbsp;analysts&nbsp;said&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    planes&nbsp;may&nbsp;have&nbsp;first&nbsp;arrived&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    on&nbsp;May&nbsp;17&nbsp;and&nbsp;been&nbsp;present&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    until&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">May&nbsp;23.<br \/>\n                                                    &nbsp; &nbsp;Ben&nbsp;Lewis,&nbsp;founder&nbsp;of&nbsp;open&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    source&nbsp;data&nbsp;platform&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    PLATracker,&nbsp;said&nbsp;they&nbsp;thought&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    it&nbsp;was&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">unlikely&nbsp;that&nbsp;the&nbsp;H-6s&nbsp;would&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    be&nbsp;deployed&nbsp;long-term&nbsp;on&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    Woody&nbsp;Island&nbsp;or&nbsp;be permanently&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">based&nbsp;there.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;&#8220;The&nbsp;ability&nbsp;to&nbsp;cycle&nbsp;forces&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    through&nbsp;the&nbsp;bases,&nbsp;especially&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    higher&nbsp;level&nbsp;assets&nbsp;like&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    H-6,&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">provides&nbsp;the&nbsp;PLA&nbsp;with&nbsp;a&nbsp;force&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    protection&nbsp;mechanism,&#8221;&nbsp;he&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    said,&nbsp;referring&nbsp;to&nbsp;China&#8217;s&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    People&#8217;s&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">Liberation&nbsp;Army.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;China&#8217;s&nbsp;Southern&nbsp;Theatre&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    Command,&nbsp;which&nbsp;covers&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    South&nbsp;China&nbsp;Sea,&nbsp;maintains&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    two&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">regiments&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;bombers,&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    according&nbsp;to&nbsp;the&nbsp;London-based&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    International&nbsp;Institute&nbsp;of Strategic&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">Studies.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;The&nbsp;bombers&nbsp;are&nbsp;generally&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    kept&nbsp;at&nbsp;heavily&nbsp;fortified&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    bases&nbsp;on&nbsp;the&nbsp;Chinese&nbsp;mainland,<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    &nbsp;where<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">they&nbsp;would&nbsp;have&nbsp;more&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    protection&nbsp;in&nbsp;a&nbsp;conflict&nbsp;from&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    U.S.&nbsp;attacks&nbsp;in&nbsp;conflict&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    scenarios.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;The&nbsp;U.S.&nbsp;maintains&nbsp;jet&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    fighter&nbsp;wings&nbsp;in&nbsp;Japan,&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    including&nbsp;on&nbsp;its&nbsp;forward&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    deployed&nbsp;aircraft&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">carrier,&nbsp;and&nbsp;on&nbsp;Guam,&nbsp;which&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    is&nbsp;also&nbsp;home&nbsp;to&nbsp;B-52s.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;China&nbsp;claims&nbsp;sovereignty&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    over&nbsp;nearly&nbsp;all&nbsp;the&nbsp;South&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    China&nbsp;Sea,&nbsp;including&nbsp;areas&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    claimed&nbsp;by&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">Brunei,&nbsp;Indonesia,&nbsp;Malaysia,&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    the&nbsp;Philippines,&nbsp;Taiwan&nbsp;and&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    Vietnam.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;A&nbsp;2016&nbsp;ruling&nbsp;by&nbsp;an&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    international&nbsp;arbitral&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    tribunal&nbsp;found&nbsp;Beijing&#8217;s&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    sweeping&nbsp;claims&nbsp;had&nbsp;no&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">basis&nbsp;under&nbsp;international&nbsp;law,<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    &nbsp;a&nbsp;decision&nbsp;China&nbsp;rejects.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\"><b><span style=\"color:rgb(35,34,228)\">Reuters (English)<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table valign=\"top\" width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"width:100%!important;width:100%;table-layout:fixed\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"*\" height=\"*\">\n<div style=\"text-align:left;word-break:break-word;font-family:&quot;Meiryo UI&quot;,Meiryo,&quot;MS PGothic&quot;,Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:1.8;width:578px\"><a style=\"color:rgb(51,122,183)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/business\/aerospace-defense\/chinas-most-advanced-bombers-seen-disputed-south-china-sea-island-2025-05-28\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?hl=ja&amp;q=https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/business\/aerospace-defense\/chinas-most-advanced-bombers-seen-disputed-south-china-sea-island-2025-05-28\/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1749195606901000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0w_0wQWY8aYzCv_-WperuY\" rel=\"noopener\"><span><span>https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/<wbr><br \/>\n                                                  business\/aerospace-defense\/<wbr><br \/>\n                                                  chinas-most-advanced-bombers-<wbr><br \/>\n                                                  seen-disputed-south-china-sea-<wbr><br \/>\n                                                  island-2025-05-28\/<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" style=\"border-top: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; background: #a5e9ff; padding: 3.75pt 13.5pt 3.75pt 13.5pt;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color: #202020;\">5\/28<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: none; border-top: solid white 1.0pt; background: #eeeeee; padding: 3.75pt;\">\n<div>\n<table valign=\"top\" width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"width:100%!important;width:100%;table-layout:fixed\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"*\" height=\"*\">\n<div id=\"m_-2284164846401345931m_2496459185264206619fc-id-157\">\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;A&nbsp;Civil&nbsp;society&nbsp;organization&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    in&nbsp;the&nbsp;Philippines&nbsp;appealing&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    to&nbsp;protect&nbsp;its&nbsp;interests&nbsp;in&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    the&nbsp;South<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">China&nbsp;Sea&nbsp;from&nbsp;China&nbsp;held&nbsp;a&nbsp;\u201c<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    Solidarity&nbsp;and&nbsp;Peace&nbsp;Concert&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    at&nbsp;Sea\u201d&nbsp;on&nbsp;a&nbsp;civilian&nbsp;ship&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    sent&nbsp;to&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">the&nbsp;area&nbsp;around&nbsp;the&nbsp;island&nbsp;of&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    Pag-asa&nbsp;Island&nbsp;(English&nbsp;name&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    Thitu&nbsp;Island), which&nbsp;is&nbsp;effectively<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">controlled&nbsp;by&nbsp;the&nbsp;Philippines,<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    &nbsp;on&nbsp;May&nbsp;28.&nbsp;The&nbsp;organization&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    stated&nbsp;that&nbsp;they&nbsp;\u201ccompleted&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    their<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">mission\u201d&nbsp;by&nbsp;performing&nbsp;within&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    the&nbsp;territorial&nbsp;waters&nbsp;two&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    nautical&nbsp;miles&nbsp;off&nbsp;the&nbsp;island,<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    &nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">although&nbsp;they&nbsp;were&nbsp;tracked&nbsp;by&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    vessels&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;Chinese&nbsp;Coast&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    Guard.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;According&nbsp;to&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    organization,&nbsp;the&nbsp;performance&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    was&nbsp;held&nbsp;inside&nbsp;the&nbsp;bridge&nbsp;of&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    the&nbsp;ship&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">instead&nbsp;of&nbsp;on&nbsp;deck&nbsp;due&nbsp;to&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    rainfall.&nbsp;Singers&nbsp;from&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    Philippines,&nbsp;South&nbsp;Korea,&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    Indonesia,&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">and&nbsp;Malaysia&nbsp;performed.&nbsp;A&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    flag-raising&nbsp;ceremony&nbsp;was&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    also&nbsp;held. A&nbsp;small&nbsp;fishing&nbsp;fleet&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">gathered&nbsp;nearby,&nbsp;where&nbsp;they&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    were&nbsp;welcomed&nbsp;and&nbsp;fuel&nbsp;was&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    distributed.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;Rafaela&nbsp;David&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    organization&nbsp;issued&nbsp;a&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    statement&nbsp;saying,&nbsp;&#8220;We&nbsp;united&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    across&nbsp;borders<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">through&nbsp;music&nbsp;and&nbsp;declared&nbsp;to&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    the&nbsp;world&nbsp;that&nbsp;we&nbsp;must&nbsp;make&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    the&nbsp;sea&nbsp;a&nbsp;place&nbsp;of&nbsp;peace,&nbsp;not&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">conflict\u201d.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;The&nbsp;civilian&nbsp;ship&nbsp;was&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    boarded&nbsp;by&nbsp;a&nbsp;total&nbsp;of&nbsp;about&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    150&nbsp;people,&nbsp;including&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    activists,&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">volunteers,&nbsp;and&nbsp;members&nbsp;of&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    the&nbsp;press,&nbsp;and&nbsp;had&nbsp;left&nbsp;El&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    Nido,&nbsp;northern&nbsp;Palawan,&nbsp;in&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    the&nbsp;early<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">hours&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;27th.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\"><b><span style=\"color:rgb(35,34,228)\">Sankei&nbsp;Shimbun&nbsp;News&nbsp;(Japanese)<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table valign=\"top\" width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"width:100%!important;width:100%;table-layout:fixed\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"*\" height=\"*\">\n<div style=\"text-align:left;word-break:break-word;font-family:&quot;Meiryo UI&quot;,Meiryo,&quot;MS PGothic&quot;,Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:1.8;width:578px\"><a style=\"color:rgb(51,122,183)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sankei.com\/article\/20250528-CIMNAL6UDZPJBAXS6PK3PIQFR4\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?hl=ja&amp;q=https:\/\/www.sankei.com\/article\/20250528-CIMNAL6UDZPJBAXS6PK3PIQFR4\/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1749195606901000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3bJF9IXCwq74RwpNLO-oTt\" rel=\"noopener\"><span><span>https:\/\/www.sankei.com\/<wbr><br \/>\n                                                  article\/20250528-<wbr><br \/>\n                                                  CIMNAL6UDZPJBAXS6PK3PIQFR4\/<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" style=\"border-top: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; background: #a5e9ff; padding: 3.75pt 13.5pt 3.75pt 13.5pt;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color: #202020;\">5\/29<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: none; border-top: solid white 1.0pt; background: #eeeeee; padding: 3.75pt;\">\n<div>\n<table valign=\"top\" width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"width:100%!important;width:100%;table-layout:fixed\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"*\" height=\"*\">\n<div id=\"m_-2284164846401345931m_2496459185264206619fc-id-158\">\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;The&nbsp;Japanese&nbsp;government&nbsp;has&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    confirmed&nbsp;that&nbsp;China&nbsp;has&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    removed&nbsp;its&nbsp;last&nbsp;remaining&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    buoy<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">from&nbsp;Japan&#8217;s&nbsp;exclusive&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    economic&nbsp;zone&nbsp;off&nbsp;Okinawa.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;The&nbsp;buoy&nbsp;was&nbsp;detected&nbsp;to&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    south&nbsp;of&nbsp;Okinawa&nbsp;Prefecture&#8217;s&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    Yonaguni&nbsp;Island&nbsp;last&nbsp;December.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">The&nbsp;Japanese&nbsp;government&nbsp;had&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    demanded&nbsp;its&nbsp;immediate&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    removal&nbsp;from&nbsp;Japan&#8217;s&nbsp;EEZ&nbsp;and&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    has&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">been&nbsp;monitoring&nbsp;the&nbsp;situation&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    around&nbsp;the&nbsp;waters.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;The&nbsp;Japanese&nbsp;government&nbsp;said&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    in&nbsp;February&nbsp;that&nbsp;a&nbsp;Chinese&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    buoy&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;waters&nbsp;around&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">Okinawa&nbsp;Prefecture&#8217;s&nbsp;Senkaku&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    Islands&nbsp;had&nbsp;been&nbsp;removed.&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    China&nbsp;explained&nbsp;that&nbsp;it&nbsp;had&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    moved<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">the&nbsp;buoy.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;Japan&nbsp;controls&nbsp;the&nbsp;Senkaku&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    Islands.&nbsp;China&nbsp;and&nbsp;Taiwan&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    claim&nbsp;them.&nbsp;The&nbsp;Japanese&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">government&nbsp;maintains&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    islands&nbsp;are&nbsp;an&nbsp;inherent&nbsp;part&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    of&nbsp;Japan&#8217;s&nbsp;territory,&nbsp;in&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    terms&nbsp;of&nbsp;history<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">and&nbsp;international&nbsp;law.&nbsp;It&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    says&nbsp;there&nbsp;is&nbsp;no&nbsp;issue&nbsp;of&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    sovereignty&nbsp;to&nbsp;be&nbsp;resolved&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    over&nbsp;them.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;Japan&#8217;s&nbsp;Chief&nbsp;Cabinet&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    Secretary&nbsp;Hayashi&nbsp;Yoshimasa&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    told&nbsp;reporters&nbsp;on&nbsp;Thursday&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    that&nbsp;he&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">understands&nbsp;that&nbsp;the&nbsp;buoy&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    south&nbsp;of&nbsp;Yonaguni&nbsp;Island&nbsp;is&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    no&nbsp;longer&nbsp;an&nbsp;issue.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;He&nbsp;said&nbsp;China&nbsp;has&nbsp;not&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    offered&nbsp;an&nbsp;external&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    explanation&nbsp;and&nbsp;he&nbsp;will&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    refrain&nbsp;from&nbsp;answering<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">questions&nbsp;about&nbsp;its&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    intentions.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;Hayashi&nbsp;said&nbsp;the&nbsp;Japanese&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    government&nbsp;has&nbsp;been&nbsp;routinely&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    patrolling&nbsp;the&nbsp;waters&nbsp;under&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    its<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">jurisdiction&nbsp;and&nbsp;the&nbsp;relevant&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    government&nbsp;agencies&nbsp;will&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    continue&nbsp;to&nbsp;cooperate&nbsp;in&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    vigilance&nbsp;and<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">surveillance&nbsp;activities.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\"><b><span style=\"color:rgb(35,34,228)\">NHK World (English)<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table valign=\"top\" width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"width:100%!important;width:100%;table-layout:fixed\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"*\" height=\"*\">\n<div style=\"text-align:left;word-break:break-word;font-family:&quot;Meiryo UI&quot;,Meiryo,&quot;MS PGothic&quot;,Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:1.8;width:578px\"><a style=\"color:rgb(51,122,183)\" href=\"https:\/\/www3.nhk.or.jp\/nhkworld\/en\/news\/20250529_16\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?hl=ja&amp;q=https:\/\/www3.nhk.or.jp\/nhkworld\/en\/news\/20250529_16\/index.html&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1749195606902000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0Tjd_Cv-M1n0dJWpYMR0G4\" rel=\"noopener\"><span><span>https:\/\/www3.nhk.or.jp\/<wbr><br \/>\n                                                  nhkworld\/en\/news\/20250529_16\/<wbr><br \/>\n                                                  index.html<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" style=\"border-top: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; background: #a5e9ff; padding: 3.75pt 13.5pt 3.75pt 13.5pt;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color: #202020;\">5\/29<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: none; border-top: solid white 1.0pt; background: #eeeeee; padding: 3.75pt;\">\n<div>\n<table valign=\"top\" width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"width:100%!important;width:100%;table-layout:fixed\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"*\" height=\"*\">\n<div id=\"m_-2284164846401345931m_2496459185264206619fc-id-159\">\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;China&nbsp;says&nbsp;it&nbsp;conducted&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    regular&nbsp;maintenance&nbsp;on&nbsp;a&nbsp;buoy&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    after&nbsp;Japan&nbsp;announced&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    removal<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">of&nbsp;the&nbsp;object&nbsp;installed&nbsp;in&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    Japan&#8217;s&nbsp;exclusive&nbsp;economic&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    zone.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;The&nbsp;buoy&nbsp;was&nbsp;detected&nbsp;to&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    south&nbsp;of&nbsp;Okinawa&nbsp;Prefecture&#8217;s&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    Yonaguni&nbsp;Island&nbsp;last&nbsp;December.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">The&nbsp;Japanese&nbsp;government,&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    which&nbsp;had&nbsp;demanded&nbsp;its&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    removal&nbsp;from&nbsp;the&nbsp;EEZ,&nbsp;said&nbsp;on&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    Thursday<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">that&nbsp;it&nbsp;had&nbsp;been&nbsp;removed&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    after&nbsp;its&nbsp;request.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;Chinese&nbsp;Foreign&nbsp;Ministry&#8217;s&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    spokesperson&nbsp;Mao&nbsp;Ning&nbsp;spoke&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    about&nbsp;the&nbsp;issue&nbsp;at&nbsp;a&nbsp;news&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">conference&nbsp;on&nbsp;Thursday.&nbsp;She&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    said&nbsp;the&nbsp;installment&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    buoy&nbsp;for&nbsp;weather&nbsp;observation&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    off&nbsp;the&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">east&nbsp;coast&nbsp;of&nbsp;Taiwan&nbsp;in&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    waters&nbsp;under&nbsp;China&#8217;s&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    jurisdiction&nbsp;was&nbsp;consistent&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    with&nbsp;both&nbsp;domestic&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">and&nbsp;international&nbsp;laws.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;She&nbsp;added&nbsp;that&nbsp;relevant&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    agencies&nbsp;implemented&nbsp;a&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    regular&nbsp;checkup&nbsp;on&nbsp;the&nbsp;buoy&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    due&nbsp;to&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">operational&nbsp;necessity.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\"><b><span style=\"color:rgb(35,34,228)\">NHK World (English)<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table valign=\"top\" width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"width:100%!important;width:100%;table-layout:fixed\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"*\" height=\"*\">\n<div style=\"text-align:left;word-break:break-word;font-family:&quot;Meiryo UI&quot;,Meiryo,&quot;MS PGothic&quot;,Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:1.8;width:578px\"><a style=\"color:rgb(51,122,183)\" href=\"https:\/\/www3.nhk.or.jp\/nhkworld\/en\/news\/20250529_22\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?hl=ja&amp;q=https:\/\/www3.nhk.or.jp\/nhkworld\/en\/news\/20250529_22\/index.html&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1749195606902000&amp;usg=AOvVaw11zeaEJ-7yi2l7pKWH-Ujx\" rel=\"noopener\"><span><span>https:\/\/www3.nhk.or.jp\/<wbr><br \/>\n                                                  nhkworld\/en\/news\/20250529_22\/<wbr><br \/>\n                                                  index.html<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" style=\"border-top: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; background: #a5e9ff; padding: 3.75pt 13.5pt 3.75pt 13.5pt;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color: #202020;\">5\/29<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: none; border-top: solid white 1.0pt; background: #eeeeee; padding: 3.75pt;\">\n<div>\n<table valign=\"top\" width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"width:100%!important;width:100%;table-layout:fixed\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"*\" height=\"*\">\n<div id=\"m_-2284164846401345931m_2496459185264206619fc-id-160\">\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;On&nbsp;the&nbsp;29th,&nbsp;interviews&nbsp;with&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    government&nbsp;officials&nbsp;and&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    others&nbsp;revealed&nbsp;that&nbsp;several&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    South&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">Korean&nbsp;oceanographic&nbsp;research&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    vessels&nbsp;are&nbsp;navigating&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    waters&nbsp;surrounding&nbsp;Takeshima<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">(Shimane&nbsp;Prefecture),&nbsp;which&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    is&nbsp;illegally&nbsp;occupied&nbsp;by&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    Republic&nbsp;of&nbsp;Korea.&nbsp;The&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    Japanese&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">government&nbsp;is&nbsp;confirming&nbsp;that&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    there&nbsp;is&nbsp;a&nbsp;possibility&nbsp;of&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    illegal&nbsp;oceanographic&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    research.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;According&nbsp;to&nbsp;government&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    officials&nbsp;and&nbsp;data&nbsp;from&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    Automatic&nbsp;Identification&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    System&nbsp;(AIS),&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">at&nbsp;least&nbsp;two&nbsp;South&nbsp;Korean&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    oceanographic&nbsp;research&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    vessels&nbsp;had&nbsp;sailed&nbsp;through&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    the&nbsp;waters&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">surrounding&nbsp;Takeshima&nbsp;by&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    same&nbsp;day.&nbsp;They&nbsp;were&nbsp;observed&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    to&nbsp;be&nbsp;circling&nbsp;the&nbsp;island&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">repeatedly&nbsp;at&nbsp;low&nbsp;speed.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;The&nbsp;Japanese&nbsp;side&nbsp;was&nbsp;aware&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    that&nbsp;the&nbsp;Korean&nbsp;research&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    vessels&nbsp;had&nbsp;sailed&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    same&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">waters&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;past.&nbsp;In&nbsp;2022,&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    the&nbsp;Japan&nbsp;Coast&nbsp;Guard&nbsp;radioed&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    a&nbsp;warning&nbsp;to&nbsp;the&nbsp;research&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">vessel,&nbsp;which&nbsp;sailed&nbsp;around&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    Takeshima,&nbsp;but&nbsp;the&nbsp;South&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    Koreans&nbsp;responded&nbsp;that&nbsp;they&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    were&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">\u201cconducting&nbsp;a&nbsp;legitimate&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    survey\u201d&nbsp;as&nbsp;well&nbsp;as&nbsp;claiming&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    territorial&nbsp;rights&nbsp;to&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    Takeshima.&nbsp;The&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">South&nbsp;Koreans&nbsp;themselves&nbsp;had&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    admitted&nbsp;to&nbsp;conducting&nbsp;an&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    illegal&nbsp;oceanographic&nbsp;survey&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    to&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">which&nbsp;the&nbsp;Japanese&nbsp;side&nbsp;had&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                                    not&nbsp;consented.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\"><b><span style=\"color:rgb(35,34,228)\">Sankei&nbsp;Shimbun&nbsp;News&nbsp;(Japanese)<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table valign=\"top\" width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"width:100%!important;width:100%;table-layout:fixed\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"*\" height=\"*\">\n<div style=\"text-align:left;word-break:break-word;font-family:&quot;Meiryo UI&quot;,Meiryo,&quot;MS PGothic&quot;,Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:1.8;width:578px\"><a style=\"color:rgb(51,122,183)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sankei.com\/article\/20250529-R5VXAQI56JNIPLXNZUFH5MROAQ\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?hl=ja&amp;q=https:\/\/www.sankei.com\/article\/20250529-R5VXAQI56JNIPLXNZUFH5MROAQ\/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1749195606902000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0gyGzMt2W3w00_0OJei6Ml\" rel=\"noopener\"><span><span>https:\/\/www.sankei.com\/<wbr><br \/>\n                                                  article\/20250529-<wbr><br \/>\n                                                  R5VXAQI56JNIPLXNZUFH5MROAQ\/<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>    <\/center>\n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h3>Newsletter Registration<\/h3>\n<p>What is happening in East Asian Maritime Security? The Research Institute for Peace and Security (RIPS) publishes the biweekly newsletter, \u201cEast Asian Maritime Security (EAMS)\u201d and updates the information on maritime security relevant to East Asia and Japan&#8217;s territory.<\/p>\n<div class=\"u-mbs is-top mw-400\"><a class=\"c-button\" href=\"https:\/\/forms.gle\/CiMT6bWdHrryT8mM6\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span>Registration Form<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Vol.22. May 30. 2025 \u00a0 What is happening in East Asian Maritime Security? The Research Institute for Peace and Security (RIPS) publishes the biweekly newsletter, the information on maritime security relevant to East Asia and Japan&#8217;s territory. Monthly Column &nbsp; China\u2019s Installment of Buoys in the East China Sea from an International Law Perspectives Masahiro Kurosaki Professor of International Law, National Defense Academy of Japan &nbsp; &nbsp; Editor&#8217;s Note: This column was submitted on May 26, two days before the &hellip; <span>More<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":2309,"menu_order":24,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v17.8 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Vol. 22, May 30, 2025 - RIPS - Research Institute for Peace and Security -<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"\u300cVol. 22, May 30, 2025 \u300d\u306b\u3064\u3044\u3066\u3054\u7d39\u4ecb\u3044\u305f\u3057\u307e\u3059\u3002- RIPS - Research Institute for Peace and Security - The Research Institute for Peace and Security (RIPS) is Japan\u2019s first nonprofit, private think tank. 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