{"id":2645,"date":"2025-09-30T00:00:20","date_gmt":"2025-09-29T15:00:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rips.or.jp\/en\/?page_id=2645"},"modified":"2025-10-14T10:27:19","modified_gmt":"2025-10-14T01:27:19","slug":"vol-30-september-30-2025","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.rips.or.jp\/en\/newsletter\/vol-30-september-30-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"Vol. 30, September 30, 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"l-container\">\n<div class=\"l-post-content\">\n<style>\nbody {\n    width: 100%;\n    height: 100%;<span data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span>\n    margin: 0;<span data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" class=\"mce_SELRES_end\">\ufeff<\/span>\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<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" style=\"padding: 0mm 13.5pt 6.75pt 13.5pt; min-width: 100%;\">\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center; font-size: 18.0pt; color: #202020;\">Vol.30. September 30. 2025<\/h1>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size: 18.0pt;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">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.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\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><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><span lang=\"EN-US\"><u><\/u>\u00a0<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;\">Escalating Naval Tensions<br \/>\n                              between the Philippines and China<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size: 16.0pt; color: black;\">Val\u00e9rie Niquet<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size: 16.0pt; color: black;\">Director Japan Program,<br \/>\n                              Foundation for Strategic Research<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span lang=\"EN-US\"><u><\/u>\u00a0<u><\/u><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span lang=\"EN-US\"><u><\/u>\u00a0<u><\/u><\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Grey-Zone Pressure and Naval Asymmetry<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The Philippines faces sustained pressure in the South China Sea, where confrontations with the People\u2019s Republic of China (PRC) have intensified around Second Thomas Shoal and Scarborough Shoal. For decades, Beijing has relied on \u201cgrey-zone\u201d tactics to assert control, employing coast guard and maritime militia vessels to block, ram, or harass Philippine resupply missions. Water cannons, close maneuvers, and new unilateral restrictions of Philippines fishing and replenishment rights have become routine, allowing China to advance its claims without triggering direct military escalation. Over time, this persistent coercion risks undermining Philippine sovereignty and operational freedom within its exclusive economic zone.<\/p>\n<p>The asymmetry in naval and coast guard capacity compounds these pressures. The PLA Navy, with a third aircraft carrier launched and a new one under construction, has grown into the world\u2019s largest in terms of numbers, supported by the heavily armed China Coast Guard and a broad network of maritime militia. This layered force structure ensures a constant Chinese presence in disputed waters and provides Beijing with escalation dominance. Manila, by contrast, continues to modernize from a low base. The introduction of two Jose Rizal\u2013class frigates, new patrol vessels, and improved coast guard assets marks progress, but these remain modest compared to China\u2019s scale and capabilities. The imbalance constrains the Philippines\u2019 ability to resist pressure independently and shapes the broader perception of vulnerability.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Alliance Responses and U.S. Presence<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>China\u2019s assertiveness has been reinforced by doubts about U.S. strategic implication. With Washington managing crises elsewhere, including inside its own society, and looking increasingly inward, Beijing may judge that American attention is divided, creating opportunities to test alliance commitments. Such perceptions carry risks for Manila and Beijing also : coercive tactics may gradually shift realities on the ground, leaving Manila unable to maintain control even without outright conflict but also provoking a strong response from the United States.<\/p>\n<p>The U.S.\u2013Philippines alliance has been revitalized through the expansion of the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (2023). Four additional bases\u2014among them facilities in northern Luzon near the Bashi Channel and in Palawan\u2014now provide expanded access for U.S. forces. These sites improve intelligence, surveillance, logistics, and rapid deployment options, strengthening deterrence and complicating Chinese planning. They also signal a more durable American commitment to Philippine defense at a time of heightened uncertainty.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Japan\u2019s Growing Role<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Japan has also emerged as a significant partner. Tokyo has supplied patrol vessels and coastal radar systems, and in 2023 extended its new Official Security Assistance (OSA) program to Manila. The Reciprocal Access Agreement was signed in august 2025. It facilitates operational interoperability and joint exercises. Beyond bilateral ties, trilateral cooperation among the Philippines, the United States, and Japan has accelerated, embedding Manila within a wider framework of regional security and reinforcing deterrence in contested waters. On September 14, 2025, the Philippines, United States, and Japan have completed another round of joint maritime drills in the South China sea, reaffirming defense cooperation.<\/p>\n<p><strong>China\u2019s Vulnerabilities<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>China itself faces internal challenges. Reports of corruption within the PLA and operational mishaps\u2014including the collision of two Chinese vessels during a confrontation in August\u2014highlight weaknesses beneath the surface of its growing fleet. Moreover, sustained grey-zone pressure generates reputational costs to China perceived as overly aggressive by its neighbours and beyond. By documenting and publicizing incidents and consistently invoking international law, notably the 2016 arbitral ruling, the Philippines has been able to frame China as a destabilizing actor, reinforcing diplomatic support from partners and international audiences.<\/p>\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 September 30)<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><span lang=\"EN-US\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<div style=\"margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 1rem; background: #aeedf1;\">\n<p>In the latter half of this month, China has engaged in unilateral actions at sea. <\/p>\n<p>On September 16, Chinese coast guard vessels engaged in aggressive behavior near Scarborough Shoal, a disputed area in the South China Sea claimed by both China and the Philippines. They fired water cannons at Philippine government vessels, causing damage and injuring one person. <br \/>\n                                          On September 23, there were signs of possible new exploratory drilling by China near the median line in the East China Sea, where it has been unilaterally developing gas fields for years.<\/p>\n<p>As part of diplomatic activities during the UN General Assembly High-Level Week, a trilateral foreign ministers\u2019 meeting between Japan, the United States, and South Korea was held on September 22. On September 23, foreign ministers from eight countries in Europe and the Indo-Pacific region, as well as the G7 foreign ministers, held meetings. On September 24, a foreign ministers&#8217; meeting focused on maritime safety and stability was also held. Japan reaffirmed its commitment to cooperating with the international community in upholding a free and open international order based on the rule of law, and shared this stance with like-minded <br \/>\n                                          countries.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><strong>[Statistical Data as of September 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.<br \/>\n                                        <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<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;\">Sep.<\/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;\">Contiguous zone<\/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;\">Territorial<br \/>\n                                              Waters<\/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;\">Sep.<\/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;\">Contiguous zone<\/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;\">Territorial<br \/>\n                                              Waters<\/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;\">16<\/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;\">\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;\">23<\/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;\">2<\/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;\">17<\/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;\">\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 class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: center;\">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;\">2<\/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;\">18<\/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;\">\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 class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: center;\">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 class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: center;\">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;\">19<\/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;\">\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 class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: center;\">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 class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: center;\">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;\">20<\/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;\">\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 class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: center;\">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;\">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<\/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;\">21<\/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;\">\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 class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: center;\">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 class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: center;\">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;\">22<\/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;\">2<\/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 class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: center;\">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 class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: center;\">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<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\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<p class=\"MsoNormal\">\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<\/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<\/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;\">9\/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_-7035162157952588202m_-3627838002053692312fc-id-127\" style=\"text-align:left;word-break:break-all;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:&quot;Meiryo UI&quot;,Meiryo,&quot;MS PGothic&quot;,Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:1.8;width:100%\">\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">On&nbsp;September&nbsp;9,&nbsp;the&nbsp;Japan&nbsp;<wbr>Maritime&nbsp;Self&nbsp;Defense&nbsp;Force&nbsp;(<wbr>JMSDF)&nbsp;confirmed&nbsp;one&nbsp;Russian&nbsp;Vishnya class&nbsp;Intelligence&nbsp;ship&nbsp;(hull&nbsp;<wbr>number&nbsp;208)&nbsp;sailing&nbsp;southwest&nbsp;<wbr>in&nbsp;the&nbsp;waters&nbsp;50km&nbsp;east&nbsp;of&nbsp;Miyakejima&nbsp;Island&nbsp;(Tokyo&nbsp;<wbr>Metropolis).<br \/>This&nbsp;vessel&nbsp;sailed&nbsp;south&nbsp;in&nbsp;<wbr>the&nbsp;contiguous&nbsp;zone&nbsp;of&nbsp;<wbr>Miyakejima&nbsp;Island,&nbsp;and&nbsp;then&nbsp;<wbr>sailed&nbsp;southwest&nbsp;through&nbsp;the&nbsp;waters&nbsp;(<wbr>contiguous&nbsp;zone)&nbsp;between&nbsp;<wbr>Mikurajima&nbsp;Island&nbsp;(Tokyo&nbsp;<wbr>Metropolis)&nbsp;and&nbsp;Hachijojima&nbsp;Island&nbsp;(Tokyo&nbsp;<wbr>Metropolis).<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">From&nbsp;September&nbsp;13&nbsp;to&nbsp;15,&nbsp;this&nbsp;<wbr>vessel&nbsp;sailed&nbsp;southwest&nbsp;<wbr>through&nbsp;the&nbsp;waters&nbsp;including&nbsp;<wbr>the&nbsp;contiguous&nbsp;zone&nbsp;from&nbsp;east&nbsp;to&nbsp;<wbr>south&nbsp;of&nbsp;Okinawajima&nbsp;Island,&nbsp;<wbr>then&nbsp;sailed&nbsp;northwest&nbsp;through&nbsp;<wbr>the&nbsp;waters&nbsp;including&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>contiguous&nbsp;zone&nbsp;south&nbsp;of&nbsp;<wbr>Okinawajima&nbsp;Island.&nbsp;It&nbsp;<wbr>subsequently&nbsp;sailed&nbsp;northwest&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;contiguous&nbsp;<wbr>zone&nbsp;southwest&nbsp;of&nbsp;Kumejima&nbsp;<wbr>Island&nbsp;(Okinawa&nbsp;Prefecture),&nbsp;<wbr>and&nbsp;navigated&nbsp;to&nbsp;the&nbsp;East&nbsp;China&nbsp;<wbr>Sea.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/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=\"300\" style=\"display:block;margin:0 auto;vertical-align:top;max-width:100%;height:auto;width:auto\" src=\"https:\/\/ci3.googleusercontent.com\/meips\/ADKq_NYvYtokPJs_JLyrDeUAWJOTXhjrRbu1lJKwJx-jPSlNi9HfeuSXulLkHo4qUe8Sct-8LOqepX3jTeAhZKiQFLqr4dNi9QtZJ8lc94KwPBSbhPw00Ly4e-f37f38vGpnxwyTtcQ=s0-d-e1-ft#https:\/\/gy53-cdn.asp.cuenote.jp\/0000013c\/202510\/00024f7b\/000c-0f7fdd49ed85.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_-7035162157952588202m_-3627838002053692312fc-id-128\" style=\"text-align:left;word-break:break-all;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:&quot;Meiryo UI&quot;,Meiryo,&quot;MS PGothic&quot;,Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:1.8;width:100%\">\n<p style=\"margin:0px\"><b><span style=\"color:rgb(35,34,228)\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\"><b><span style=\"color:rgb(35,34,228)\">Japan Joint <span style=\"color:rgb(35,34,228)\"><\/span>Staff<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<\/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:100%\"><a style=\"color:rgb(51,122,183)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mod.go.jp\/js\/pdf\/2025\/p20250916_01.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?hl=ja&amp;q=https:\/\/www.mod.go.jp\/js\/pdf\/2025\/p20250916_01.pdf&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1760275260705000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1F4jA-W6mZTaR6tVh4llQc\" rel=\"noopener\"><span><span>https:\/\/www.mod.go.jp\/js\/pdf\/<wbr>2025\/p20250916_01.pdf<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/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;\">9\/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_-7035162157952588202m_-3627838002053692312fc-id-129\" style=\"text-align:left;word-break:break-all;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:&quot;Meiryo UI&quot;,Meiryo,&quot;MS PGothic&quot;,Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:1.8;width:100%\">\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">On&nbsp;September&nbsp;13,&nbsp;the&nbsp;JMSDF&nbsp;<wbr>confirmed&nbsp;two&nbsp;Chinese&nbsp;Luyang&nbsp;<wbr>III&nbsp;class&nbsp;destroyer&nbsp;(hull&nbsp;<wbr>number&nbsp;132 and&nbsp;135)&nbsp;sailing&nbsp;southeast&nbsp;in&nbsp;<wbr>the&nbsp;waters&nbsp;120km&nbsp;northeast&nbsp;of&nbsp;<wbr>Miyakojima&nbsp;Island&nbsp;(Okinawa&nbsp;Prefecture).&nbsp;<br \/>These&nbsp;vessels&nbsp;sailed&nbsp;<wbr>southeast&nbsp;through&nbsp;the&nbsp;waters&nbsp;<wbr>between&nbsp;Okinawajima&nbsp;Island&nbsp;<wbr>and&nbsp;Miyakojima&nbsp;Island&nbsp;and&nbsp;navigated&nbsp;to&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>Pacific&nbsp;Ocean.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">On&nbsp;September&nbsp;16,&nbsp;the&nbsp;JMSDF&nbsp;<wbr>confirmed&nbsp;one&nbsp;Chinese&nbsp;Luyang&nbsp;<wbr>III&nbsp;class&nbsp;destroyer&nbsp;(hull&nbsp;<wbr>number&nbsp;135) sailing&nbsp;north&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;waters&nbsp;<wbr>110km&nbsp;northeast&nbsp;of&nbsp;Miyakojima&nbsp;<wbr>Island.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">This&nbsp;vessel&nbsp;sailed&nbsp;north&nbsp;<wbr>through&nbsp;the&nbsp;waters&nbsp;between&nbsp;<wbr>Okinawajima&nbsp;Island&nbsp;and&nbsp;<wbr>Miyakojima&nbsp;Island&nbsp;and&nbsp;navigated&nbsp;to&nbsp;the&nbsp;East&nbsp;<wbr>China&nbsp;Sea.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/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=\"299\" style=\"display:block;margin:0 auto;vertical-align:top;max-width:100%;height:auto;width:auto\" src=\"https:\/\/ci3.googleusercontent.com\/meips\/ADKq_NZTaBDfE8wq1H2mhX-pLl-Enb2ocEmT2PAOlKxWZ4aZ9KEm8GW26jtKp54T1eki4p8kWdc8TVunWrvZF945SHaKWNna_KDv6iLuCvT-JZpCHPPgNmKlzmNt14KWqYxCJo4Yf_w=s0-d-e1-ft#https:\/\/gy53-cdn.asp.cuenote.jp\/0000013c\/202510\/00024f7b\/000d-5f052d0eccce.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_-7035162157952588202m_-3627838002053692312fc-id-130\" style=\"text-align:left;word-break:break-all;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:&quot;Meiryo UI&quot;,Meiryo,&quot;MS PGothic&quot;,Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:1.8;width:100%\">\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">On&nbsp;September&nbsp;14,&nbsp;the&nbsp;JMSDF&nbsp;<wbr>confirmed&nbsp;one&nbsp;Chinese&nbsp;Jangkai&nbsp;<wbr>II&nbsp;class&nbsp;frigate&nbsp;(hull&nbsp;number&nbsp;<wbr>577)&nbsp;and one&nbsp;Chinese&nbsp;Fuchi&nbsp;class&nbsp;<wbr>replenishment&nbsp;ship&nbsp;(hull&nbsp;<wbr>number&nbsp;890)&nbsp;sailing&nbsp;southeast&nbsp;<wbr>in&nbsp;the&nbsp;waters 100km&nbsp;northeast&nbsp;of&nbsp;Miyakojima&nbsp;<wbr>Island.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">These&nbsp;vessels&nbsp;sailed&nbsp;<wbr>southeast&nbsp;through&nbsp;the&nbsp;waters&nbsp;<wbr>between&nbsp;Okinawajima&nbsp;Island&nbsp;<wbr>and&nbsp;Miyakojima&nbsp;Island&nbsp;and&nbsp;navigated&nbsp;to&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>Pacific&nbsp;Ocean.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/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=\"300\" style=\"display:block;margin:0 auto;vertical-align:top;max-width:100%;height:auto;width:auto\" src=\"https:\/\/ci3.googleusercontent.com\/meips\/ADKq_NautVaWv4KrRM9ngFvHW_r7v2HLIFu189Yqxx3AOACqDUvA8g3AYR8LCLyOyZB7A5-5OM1uspnJ5SjEZ_poGooRCeLwGNUZFVfxMF73VyKMthJ2tpKYl4KQAnPU64vzc3HQFA8=s0-d-e1-ft#https:\/\/gy53-cdn.asp.cuenote.jp\/0000013c\/202510\/00024f7b\/000e-80ecc3fb2c96.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_-7035162157952588202m_-3627838002053692312fc-id-131\" style=\"text-align:left;word-break:break-all;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:&quot;Meiryo UI&quot;,Meiryo,&quot;MS PGothic&quot;,Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:1.8;width:100%\">\n<p style=\"margin:0px\"><b><span style=\"color:rgb(35,34,228)\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\"><b><span style=\"color:rgb(35,34,228)\">Japan Joint <span style=\"color:rgb(35,34,228)\"><\/span>Staff<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<\/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:100%\"><a style=\"color:rgb(51,122,183)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mod.go.jp\/js\/pdf\/2025\/p20250916_02.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?hl=ja&amp;q=https:\/\/www.mod.go.jp\/js\/pdf\/2025\/p20250916_02.pdf&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1760275260705000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2Ae5oJyBg_SCs3uiwW1VLa\" rel=\"noopener\"><span><span>https:\/\/www.mod.go.jp\/js\/pdf\/<wbr>2025\/p20250916_02.pdf<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/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;\">9\/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_-7035162157952588202m_-3627838002053692312fc-id-132\" style=\"text-align:left;word-break:break-all;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:&quot;Meiryo UI&quot;,Meiryo,&quot;MS PGothic&quot;,Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:1.8;width:100%\">\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">On&nbsp;September&nbsp;16,&nbsp;China&#8217;s&nbsp;<wbr>Coast&nbsp;Guard&nbsp;said&nbsp;it&nbsp;fired&nbsp;<wbr>water&nbsp;cannon&nbsp;at&nbsp;Philippine&nbsp;<wbr>ships&nbsp;near&nbsp;the&nbsp;disputed&nbsp;Scarborough&nbsp;Shoal&nbsp;in&nbsp;<wbr>the&nbsp;South&nbsp;China&nbsp;Sea,&nbsp;and&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>Philippines&nbsp;accused&nbsp;Beijing&nbsp;<wbr>of&nbsp;&#8220;aggressive&#8221;&nbsp;action&nbsp;that&nbsp;<wbr>injured&nbsp;one&nbsp;person.<br \/>The&nbsp;confrontation&nbsp;comes&nbsp;a&nbsp;<wbr>week&nbsp;after&nbsp;China&nbsp;approved&nbsp;<wbr>plans&nbsp;to&nbsp;turn&nbsp;the&nbsp;shoal&nbsp;into&nbsp;<wbr>a&nbsp;national&nbsp;nature&nbsp;reserve,&nbsp;a&nbsp;move&nbsp;that&nbsp;<wbr>defence&nbsp;analysts&nbsp;have&nbsp;said&nbsp;<wbr>would&nbsp;test&nbsp;Manila&#8217;s&nbsp;response&nbsp;<wbr>over&nbsp;the&nbsp;150&nbsp;sq&nbsp;km&nbsp;(58&nbsp;sq&nbsp;mile)&nbsp;<wbr>triangular&nbsp;chain&nbsp;of&nbsp;reefs&nbsp;and&nbsp;<wbr>rocks.<br \/>The&nbsp;Philippine&nbsp;Coast&nbsp;Guard&nbsp;in&nbsp;<wbr>turn&nbsp;accused&nbsp;its&nbsp;Chinese&nbsp;<wbr>counterpart&nbsp;of&nbsp;harassing&nbsp;<wbr>vessels&nbsp;it&nbsp;said&nbsp;were&nbsp;on&nbsp;a&nbsp;humanitarian&nbsp;<wbr>mission&nbsp;to&nbsp;support&nbsp;fishermen.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">The&nbsp;16th&#8217;s&nbsp;encounter&nbsp;involved&nbsp;<wbr>more&nbsp;than&nbsp;10&nbsp;Philippine&nbsp;ships,<wbr>&nbsp;said&nbsp;Gan&nbsp;Yu,&nbsp;a&nbsp;spokesperson&nbsp;<wbr>for&nbsp;China&#8217;s&nbsp;Coast&nbsp;Guard,&nbsp;accusing&nbsp;<wbr>the&nbsp;vessels&nbsp;of&nbsp;having&nbsp;&#8220;<wbr>illegally&nbsp;invaded&nbsp;China&#8217;s&nbsp;<wbr>territorial&nbsp;waters&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;Scarborough&nbsp;Shoal&nbsp;from&nbsp;<wbr>different&nbsp;directions&#8221;.<br \/>In&nbsp;particular,&nbsp;he&nbsp;faulted&nbsp;<wbr>Philippine&nbsp;government&nbsp;vessel&nbsp;<wbr>3014,&nbsp;saying&nbsp;in&nbsp;a&nbsp;statement&nbsp;<wbr>it&nbsp;had&nbsp;&#8220;disregarded&nbsp;solemn&nbsp;warnings&nbsp;<wbr>from&nbsp;the&nbsp;Chinese&nbsp;side&nbsp;and&nbsp;<wbr>deliberately&nbsp;rammed&nbsp;a&nbsp;Chinese&nbsp;<wbr>Coast&nbsp;Guard&nbsp;vessel&#8221;.<br \/>&#8220;The&nbsp;China&nbsp;Coast&nbsp;Guard&nbsp;<wbr>lawfully&nbsp;implemented&nbsp;control&nbsp;<wbr>measures&nbsp;against&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>Philippine&nbsp;ships,&#8221;&nbsp;he&nbsp;said.<br \/>These&nbsp;included&nbsp;measures&nbsp;such&nbsp;<wbr>as&nbsp;verbal&nbsp;warnings,&nbsp;route&nbsp;<wbr>restrictions&nbsp;and&nbsp;water&nbsp;cannon&nbsp;<wbr>spraying,&nbsp;Gan&nbsp;said.<br \/>A&nbsp;video&nbsp;released&nbsp;by&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>Chinese&nbsp;Coast&nbsp;Guard&nbsp;showed&nbsp;<wbr>the&nbsp;bow&nbsp;of&nbsp;Philippine&nbsp;vessel&nbsp;<wbr>3014&nbsp;making&nbsp;contact&nbsp;with&nbsp;a&nbsp;Chinese&nbsp;ship,&nbsp;<wbr>damaging&nbsp;part&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;deck&nbsp;<wbr>railing&nbsp;as&nbsp;the&nbsp;Chinese&nbsp;Coast&nbsp;<wbr>Guard&nbsp;ship&nbsp;fired&nbsp;water&nbsp;cannon&nbsp;at&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>Philippine&nbsp;vessel.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">In&nbsp;a&nbsp;statement,&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>Philippine&nbsp;Coast&nbsp;Guard&nbsp;said&nbsp;<wbr>it&nbsp;was&nbsp;engaged&nbsp;in&nbsp;a&nbsp;mission&nbsp;<wbr>to&nbsp;resupply&nbsp;more&nbsp;than&nbsp;35&nbsp;Philippine&nbsp;fishing&nbsp;<wbr>boats&nbsp;at&nbsp;the&nbsp;shoal&nbsp;when&nbsp;they&nbsp;<wbr>encountered&nbsp;&#8220;aggressive&nbsp;<wbr>actions&#8221;&nbsp;by&nbsp;nine&nbsp;Chinese&nbsp;vessels.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">The&nbsp;PCG&nbsp;later&nbsp;said&nbsp;in&nbsp;a&nbsp;<wbr>separate&nbsp;statement&nbsp;that&nbsp;two&nbsp;<wbr>Chinese&nbsp;Coast&nbsp;Guard&nbsp;ships&nbsp;had&nbsp;<wbr>directed&nbsp;water&nbsp;cannons&nbsp;at&nbsp;the&nbsp;3014&nbsp;<wbr>fisheries&nbsp;vessel.<br \/>The&nbsp;&#8220;aggressive&nbsp;action&#8221;&nbsp;<wbr>caused&nbsp;&#8220;significant&nbsp;damage&#8221;&nbsp;<wbr>to&nbsp;the&nbsp;Philippine&nbsp;vessel&nbsp;and&nbsp;<wbr>one&nbsp;person&nbsp;sustained&nbsp;injuries&nbsp;from&nbsp;<wbr>shattered&nbsp;glass&nbsp;caused&nbsp;by&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>water&nbsp;cannon,&nbsp;it&nbsp;said.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">Each&nbsp;side&nbsp;accuses&nbsp;the&nbsp;other&nbsp;<wbr>of&nbsp;provocations&nbsp;and&nbsp;<wbr>trespassing&nbsp;in&nbsp;incidents&nbsp;<wbr>featuring&nbsp;use&nbsp;of&nbsp;water&nbsp;cannon,&nbsp;boat-ramming&nbsp;and&nbsp;<wbr>manoeuvres&nbsp;by&nbsp;China&#8217;s&nbsp;Coast&nbsp;<wbr>Guard&nbsp;that&nbsp;the&nbsp;Philippines&nbsp;<wbr>regards&nbsp;as&nbsp;dangerously&nbsp;close,&nbsp;as&nbsp;well&nbsp;as&nbsp;<wbr>jets&nbsp;shadowing&nbsp;Philippine&nbsp;<wbr>aircraft&nbsp;there.<br \/>A&nbsp;spokesperson&nbsp;for&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>Philippine&nbsp;Maritime&nbsp;Council&nbsp;<wbr>said&nbsp;there&nbsp;was&nbsp;&#8220;no&nbsp;truth&#8221;&nbsp;in&nbsp;<wbr>China&#8217;s&nbsp;statement&nbsp;that&nbsp;it&nbsp;had&nbsp;taken&nbsp;control&nbsp;<wbr>measures,&nbsp;which&nbsp;it&nbsp;dismissed&nbsp;<wbr>as&nbsp;&#8220;another&nbsp;case&nbsp;of&nbsp;Chinese&nbsp;<wbr>disinformation&nbsp;and&nbsp;propaganda&#8221;.<br \/>Analysts&nbsp;have&nbsp;said&nbsp;Beijing&#8217;s&nbsp;<wbr>plan&nbsp;to&nbsp;categorise&nbsp;the&nbsp;shoal&nbsp;<wbr>as&nbsp;a&nbsp;nature&nbsp;reserve&nbsp;amounted&nbsp;<wbr>to&nbsp;trying&nbsp;to&nbsp;take&nbsp;the&nbsp;moral&nbsp;high&nbsp;ground&nbsp;<wbr>in&nbsp;the&nbsp;dispute&nbsp;over&nbsp;the&nbsp;atoll.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/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_-7035162157952588202m_-3627838002053692312fc-id-133\" style=\"text-align:left;word-break:break-all;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:&quot;Meiryo UI&quot;,Meiryo,&quot;MS PGothic&quot;,Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:1.8;width:100%\">\n<p style=\"margin:0px\"><b><span style=\"color:rgb(35,34,228)\">Reuters<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<\/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:100%\"><a style=\"color:rgb(51,122,183)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/world\/china\/china-fires-water-cannon-philippine-ships-south-china-sea-2025-09-16\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?hl=ja&amp;q=https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/world\/china\/china-fires-water-cannon-philippine-ships-south-china-sea-2025-09-16\/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1760275260705000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3iwm8xfRNLPFjsrofrt8zJ\" rel=\"noopener\"><span><span>https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/world\/<wbr>china\/china-fires-water-<wbr>cannon-philippine-ships-south-<wbr>china-sea-2025-09-16\/<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/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;\">9\/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_-7035162157952588202m_-3627838002053692312fc-id-134\" style=\"text-align:left;word-break:break-all;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:&quot;Meiryo UI&quot;,Meiryo,&quot;MS PGothic&quot;,Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:1.8;width:100%\">\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">On&nbsp;September&nbsp;16,&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>Government&nbsp;of&nbsp;Japan&nbsp;confirmed&nbsp;<wbr>that&nbsp;the&nbsp;South&nbsp;Korean&nbsp;<wbr>oceanographic&nbsp;research&nbsp;vessel&nbsp;NARA&nbsp;was&nbsp;<wbr>deploying&nbsp;what&nbsp;appeared&nbsp;to&nbsp;be&nbsp;<wbr>a&nbsp;wire-like&nbsp;object&nbsp;into&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>waters&nbsp;of&nbsp;Japan&#8217;s&nbsp;exclusive&nbsp;economic&nbsp;<wbr>zone&nbsp;(EEZ)&nbsp;from&nbsp;west&nbsp;to&nbsp;<wbr>northwest&nbsp;of&nbsp;Takeshima.&nbsp;<wbr>Regarding&nbsp;the&nbsp;survey&nbsp;conducted&nbsp;by&nbsp;the&nbsp;same&nbsp;<wbr>research&nbsp;vessel,&nbsp;the&nbsp;South&nbsp;<wbr>Korean&nbsp;side&nbsp;did&nbsp;not&nbsp;submit&nbsp;a&nbsp;<wbr>request&nbsp;for&nbsp;prior&nbsp;consent&nbsp;to&nbsp;our&nbsp;side.<wbr>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">In&nbsp;response&nbsp;to&nbsp;this,&nbsp;on&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>same&nbsp;day,&nbsp;the&nbsp;Government&nbsp;of&nbsp;<wbr>Japan&nbsp;lodged&nbsp;a&nbsp;strong&nbsp;protest&nbsp;<wbr>with&nbsp;the&nbsp;South&nbsp;Korean&nbsp;side&nbsp;through&nbsp;<wbr>diplomatic&nbsp;channels,&nbsp;stating&nbsp;<wbr>that&nbsp;conducting&nbsp;a&nbsp;survey&nbsp;<wbr>within&nbsp;Japan&#8217;s&nbsp;EEZ&nbsp;without&nbsp;prior&nbsp;consent&nbsp;is&nbsp;<wbr>unacceptable.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/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_-7035162157952588202m_-3627838002053692312fc-id-135\" style=\"text-align:left;word-break:break-all;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:&quot;Meiryo UI&quot;,Meiryo,&quot;MS PGothic&quot;,Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:1.8;width:100%\">\n<p style=\"margin:0px\"><span style=\"color:rgb(35,34,228)\"><b>Ministry of Foreign Affairs&nbsp;of Japan (Japanese)<\/b><\/span><b><\/b><\/p>\n<\/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:100%\"><a style=\"color:rgb(51,122,183)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mofa.go.jp\/mofaj\/press\/release\/pressit_000001_02732.html\" target=\"_blank\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?hl=ja&amp;q=https:\/\/www.mofa.go.jp\/mofaj\/press\/release\/pressit_000001_02732.html&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1760275260705000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0WRy5MkdrT00ncDl8bp3ng\" rel=\"noopener\"><span><span>https:\/\/www.mofa.go.jp\/mofaj\/<wbr>press\/release\/pressit_000001_<wbr>02732.html<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/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;\">9\/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_-7035162157952588202m_-3627838002053692312fc-id-136\" style=\"text-align:left;word-break:break-all;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:&quot;Meiryo UI&quot;,Meiryo,&quot;MS PGothic&quot;,Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:1.8;width:100%\">\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">On&nbsp;September&nbsp;16,&nbsp;the&nbsp;JMSDF&nbsp;<wbr>confirmed&nbsp;one&nbsp;Russian&nbsp;Udaloy&nbsp;<wbr>I&nbsp;class&nbsp;destroyer&nbsp;(hull&nbsp;<wbr>number&nbsp;548),&nbsp;one Steregushchiy&nbsp;class&nbsp;frigate&nbsp;(<wbr>hull&nbsp;number&nbsp;333),&nbsp;one&nbsp;Ropucha&nbsp;<wbr>I&nbsp;class&nbsp;landing&nbsp;ship (hull number&nbsp;066)&nbsp;and&nbsp;one&nbsp;Alexandrit&nbsp;class&nbsp;<wbr>minesweeper&nbsp;(hull&nbsp;number&nbsp;757)&nbsp;<wbr>sailing&nbsp;west&nbsp;in&nbsp;the waters&nbsp;30km&nbsp;north&nbsp;of&nbsp;Cape&nbsp;Soya&nbsp;(Hokkaido&nbsp;<wbr>Prefecture).&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">These&nbsp;vessels&nbsp;sailed&nbsp;west&nbsp;<wbr>through&nbsp;the&nbsp;Soya&nbsp;Strait.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/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=\"300\" style=\"display:block;margin:0 auto;vertical-align:top;max-width:100%;height:auto;width:auto\" src=\"https:\/\/ci3.googleusercontent.com\/meips\/ADKq_NY3fpKL3lA5v5UqzQcfAdN8V1gRgF_cqJuHYuodIGMKc4r4Fu6oK316JKDSnj6JRaM5MwbbpfRFk80E20rz5aVs7DiYSvj-SgkkNK8Mxw2P3YbJ4DSnUpByTCtE8kD8WjQazWM=s0-d-e1-ft#https:\/\/gy53-cdn.asp.cuenote.jp\/0000013c\/202510\/00024f7b\/000f-5d89db6faf9d.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_-7035162157952588202m_-3627838002053692312fc-id-137\" style=\"text-align:left;word-break:break-all;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:&quot;Meiryo UI&quot;,Meiryo,&quot;MS PGothic&quot;,Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:1.8;width:100%\">\n<p style=\"margin:0px\"><b><span style=\"color:rgb(35,34,228)\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\"><b><span style=\"color:rgb(35,34,228)\">Japan Joint <span style=\"color:rgb(35,34,228)\"><\/span>Staff<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<\/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:100%\"><a style=\"color:rgb(51,122,183)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mod.go.jp\/js\/pdf\/2025\/p20250917_01.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?hl=ja&amp;q=https:\/\/www.mod.go.jp\/js\/pdf\/2025\/p20250917_01.pdf&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1760275260705000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1Z3lH3-aw8ZfNMGAUsnLaF\" rel=\"noopener\"><span><span>https:\/\/www.mod.go.jp\/js\/pdf\/<wbr>2025\/p20250917_01.pdf<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/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;\">9\/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_-7035162157952588202m_-3627838002053692312fc-id-138\" style=\"text-align:left;word-break:break-all;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:&quot;Meiryo UI&quot;,Meiryo,&quot;MS PGothic&quot;,Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:1.8;width:100%\">\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">On&nbsp;September&nbsp;16,&nbsp;the&nbsp;JMSDF&nbsp;<wbr>confirmed&nbsp;one&nbsp;Chinese&nbsp;Luyang&nbsp;<wbr>III&nbsp;class&nbsp;destroyer&nbsp;(hull&nbsp;<wbr>number&nbsp;123) sailing&nbsp;northeast&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>waters&nbsp;80km&nbsp;southwest&nbsp;of&nbsp;<wbr>Tsushima&nbsp;Island&nbsp;(Nagasaki&nbsp;<wbr>Prefecture).<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">From&nbsp;September&nbsp;16&nbsp;to&nbsp;17,&nbsp;this&nbsp;<wbr>vessel&nbsp;sailed&nbsp;northeast&nbsp;<wbr>through&nbsp;the&nbsp;Tsushima&nbsp;Strait&nbsp;<wbr>and&nbsp;navigated&nbsp;to&nbsp;the&nbsp;Sea&nbsp;of&nbsp;Japan.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">On&nbsp;September&nbsp;17,&nbsp;the&nbsp;JMSDF&nbsp;<wbr>confirmed&nbsp;one&nbsp;Chinese&nbsp;Luyang&nbsp;<wbr>III&nbsp;class&nbsp;destroyer&nbsp;(hull&nbsp;<wbr>number&nbsp;124) and&nbsp;one&nbsp;Chinese&nbsp;Fuchi&nbsp;class&nbsp;<wbr>replenishment&nbsp;ship&nbsp;(hull&nbsp;<wbr>number&nbsp;902)&nbsp;sailing&nbsp;northeast&nbsp;<wbr>in&nbsp;the&nbsp;waters 140km&nbsp;southwest&nbsp;of&nbsp;Tsushima&nbsp;<wbr>Island.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">These&nbsp;vessels&nbsp;sailed&nbsp;<wbr>northeast&nbsp;through&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>Tsushima&nbsp;Strait&nbsp;and&nbsp;navigated&nbsp;<wbr>to&nbsp;the&nbsp;Sea&nbsp;of&nbsp;Japan.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/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=\"300\" style=\"display:block;margin:0 auto;vertical-align:top;max-width:100%;height:auto;width:auto\" src=\"https:\/\/ci3.googleusercontent.com\/meips\/ADKq_NanniYRonsAgRO5WA4F_RY8nE9paqSReVs3S_kB6VCSe5oMiyCrGIIkfNFwL6pUmItFwRG0TVKcxidnzchbO0Pvfuzp2coOUjhBsEEyKN9uYIT3T0EarV38pwYRt1KBWxukzyo=s0-d-e1-ft#https:\/\/gy53-cdn.asp.cuenote.jp\/0000013c\/202510\/00024f7b\/0010-41504f7418c2.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_-7035162157952588202m_-3627838002053692312fc-id-139\" style=\"text-align:left;word-break:break-all;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:&quot;Meiryo UI&quot;,Meiryo,&quot;MS PGothic&quot;,Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:1.8;width:100%\">\n<p style=\"margin:0px\"><b><span style=\"color:rgb(35,34,228)\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\"><b><span style=\"color:rgb(35,34,228)\">Japan Joint <span style=\"color:rgb(35,34,228)\"><\/span>Staff<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<\/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:100%\"><a style=\"color:rgb(51,122,183)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mod.go.jp\/js\/pdf\/2025\/p20250917_02.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?hl=ja&amp;q=https:\/\/www.mod.go.jp\/js\/pdf\/2025\/p20250917_02.pdf&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1760275260706000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3oCWYdjlrT8JR9l-8j1QBH\" rel=\"noopener\"><span><span>https:\/\/www.mod.go.jp\/js\/pdf\/<wbr>2025\/p20250917_02.pdf<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/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;\">9\/18<\/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_-7035162157952588202m_-3627838002053692312fc-id-140\" style=\"text-align:left;word-break:break-all;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:&quot;Meiryo UI&quot;,Meiryo,&quot;MS PGothic&quot;,Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:1.8;width:100%\">\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">China\u2019s&nbsp;declaration&nbsp;of&nbsp;a&nbsp;<wbr>nature&nbsp;reserve&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;South&nbsp;<wbr>China&nbsp;Sea&nbsp;is&nbsp;the&nbsp;latest&nbsp;twist&nbsp;<wbr>in&nbsp;its&nbsp;yearslong&nbsp;push&nbsp;to&nbsp;establish&nbsp;control&nbsp;<wbr>over&nbsp;the&nbsp;strategically&nbsp;<wbr>important&nbsp;waters&nbsp;and&nbsp;sea&nbsp;lane.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">The&nbsp;National&nbsp;Forestry&nbsp;and&nbsp;<wbr>Grassland&nbsp;Administration&nbsp;said&nbsp;<wbr>last&nbsp;week&nbsp;that&nbsp;the&nbsp;reserve&nbsp;<wbr>would&nbsp;protect&nbsp;the&nbsp;coral&nbsp;reef&nbsp;ecosystem&nbsp;at&nbsp;<wbr>Huangyan&nbsp;Island,&nbsp;better&nbsp;known&nbsp;<wbr>internationally&nbsp;as&nbsp;<wbr>Scarborough&nbsp;Shoal.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">But&nbsp;outside&nbsp;experts&nbsp;believe&nbsp;<wbr>the&nbsp;announcement&nbsp;was&nbsp;driven&nbsp;<wbr>more&nbsp;by&nbsp;geopolitics&nbsp;than&nbsp;environmental&nbsp;protection.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">\u201cIt&nbsp;falls&nbsp;into&nbsp;a&nbsp;pattern&nbsp;of&nbsp;<wbr>China&nbsp;trying&nbsp;to&nbsp;establish&nbsp;<wbr>administrative&nbsp;justifications&nbsp;<wbr>for&nbsp;things&nbsp;it\u2019s&nbsp;already&nbsp;done&nbsp;with&nbsp;military&nbsp;<wbr>force,\u201d&nbsp;Greg&nbsp;Poling,&nbsp;an&nbsp;<wbr>expert&nbsp;on&nbsp;the&nbsp;South&nbsp;China&nbsp;Sea&nbsp;<wbr>at&nbsp;the&nbsp;Center&nbsp;for&nbsp;Strategic&nbsp;and&nbsp;International&nbsp;<wbr>Studies,&nbsp;said&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;reserve.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">Chinese&nbsp;ships&nbsp;dragged&nbsp;their&nbsp;<wbr>propellers&nbsp;through&nbsp;the&nbsp;reefs&nbsp;<wbr>to&nbsp;dig&nbsp;up&nbsp;the&nbsp;clams&nbsp;until&nbsp;<wbr>2016.&nbsp;Then&nbsp;they&nbsp;switched&nbsp;to&nbsp;firing&nbsp;high-<wbr>pressure&nbsp;water&nbsp;at&nbsp;the&nbsp;reefs.&nbsp;<wbr>The&nbsp;damage&nbsp;is&nbsp;less&nbsp;visible but&nbsp;equally&nbsp;harmful,&nbsp;said&nbsp;Ray&nbsp;Powell,&nbsp;<wbr>founder&nbsp;and&nbsp;director&nbsp;of&nbsp;<wbr>SeaLight,&nbsp;a&nbsp;group&nbsp;at&nbsp;Stanford&nbsp;<wbr>University&nbsp;that&nbsp;tracks&nbsp;maritime&nbsp;\u201cgray-zone\u201d&nbsp;<wbr>activity.<br \/>China&nbsp;is&nbsp;\u201cattempting&nbsp;to&nbsp;<wbr>strengthen&nbsp;its&nbsp;claim&nbsp;while&nbsp;<wbr>diverting&nbsp;scrutiny&nbsp;from&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>environmental&nbsp;devastation&nbsp;its&nbsp;own&nbsp;fleets&nbsp;<wbr>inflicted&nbsp;\u2014&nbsp;like&nbsp;an&nbsp;arsonist&nbsp;<wbr>who&nbsp;torches&nbsp;a&nbsp;property&nbsp;and&nbsp;<wbr>then&nbsp;appoints&nbsp;himself&nbsp;fire&nbsp;marshal&nbsp;amid&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>ashes,\u201d&nbsp;Powell&nbsp;said.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">The&nbsp;nature&nbsp;reserve&nbsp;has&nbsp;more&nbsp;<wbr>to&nbsp;do&nbsp;with&nbsp;territorial&nbsp;claims&nbsp;<wbr>than&nbsp;reef&nbsp;protection,&nbsp;said&nbsp;<wbr>Bec&nbsp;Strating,&nbsp;a&nbsp;professor&nbsp;of&nbsp;international&nbsp;<wbr>relations&nbsp;at&nbsp;La&nbsp;Trobe&nbsp;<wbr>University&nbsp;in&nbsp;Australia.&nbsp;She&nbsp;<wbr>described&nbsp;the&nbsp;move&nbsp;as&nbsp;\u201cthe&nbsp;weaponization&nbsp;of&nbsp;<wbr>environmental&nbsp;concerns.\u201d<br \/>China\u2019s&nbsp;state&nbsp;broadcaster&nbsp;<wbr>CCTV&nbsp;said&nbsp;the&nbsp;establishment&nbsp;<wbr>of&nbsp;the&nbsp;reserve&nbsp;was&nbsp;not&nbsp;just&nbsp;<wbr>an&nbsp;act&nbsp;of&nbsp;ecological&nbsp;protection,&nbsp;but&nbsp;<wbr>also&nbsp;a&nbsp;signal&nbsp;that&nbsp;China&nbsp;is&nbsp;<wbr>shifting&nbsp;from&nbsp;responding&nbsp;to&nbsp;<wbr>provocations&nbsp;to&nbsp;long-term&nbsp;maritime&nbsp;governance&nbsp;<wbr>in&nbsp;the&nbsp;South&nbsp;China&nbsp;Sea.<br \/>Marine&nbsp;scientists,&nbsp;including&nbsp;<wbr>those&nbsp;from&nbsp;China,&nbsp;have&nbsp;been&nbsp;<wbr>trying&nbsp;to&nbsp;preserve&nbsp;nature,&nbsp;<wbr>but&nbsp;policymakers&nbsp;are&nbsp;turning&nbsp;<wbr>conservation&nbsp;into&nbsp;politics,&nbsp;<wbr>said&nbsp;James&nbsp;Borton,&nbsp;a&nbsp;non-<wbr>resident&nbsp;senior&nbsp;fellow&nbsp;at&nbsp;Johns&nbsp;Hopkins\u2019&nbsp;SAIS&nbsp;<wbr>Foreign&nbsp;Policy&nbsp;Institute.<br \/>\u201cIf&nbsp;you&nbsp;declare&nbsp;just&nbsp;a&nbsp;small&nbsp;<wbr>section&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;reef&nbsp;crest,&nbsp;<wbr>maybe&nbsp;that\u2019s&nbsp;an&nbsp;area&nbsp;where&nbsp;<wbr>they&nbsp;can&nbsp;replant some&nbsp;coral&nbsp;and&nbsp;grow&nbsp;a&nbsp;little&nbsp;<wbr>garden,\u201d&nbsp;Poling&nbsp;said,&nbsp;\u201cBut&nbsp;<wbr>Scarborough&nbsp;shoal&nbsp;is&nbsp;a&nbsp;<wbr>graveyard&nbsp;&#8230; Everything&nbsp;is&nbsp;dead.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">China&nbsp;has&nbsp;come&nbsp;under&nbsp;<wbr>criticism&nbsp;for&nbsp;island-building&nbsp;<wbr>in&nbsp;the&nbsp;South&nbsp;China&nbsp;Sea,&nbsp;but&nbsp;<wbr>experts don\u2019t&nbsp;expect&nbsp;the same&nbsp;at&nbsp;Scarborough&nbsp;Shoal.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">\u201cIt&nbsp;would&nbsp;be&nbsp;very&nbsp;odd&nbsp;for&nbsp;<wbr>them&nbsp;to&nbsp;say&nbsp;we\u2019re&nbsp;going&nbsp;to&nbsp;<wbr>turn&nbsp;it&nbsp;into&nbsp;a&nbsp;nature&nbsp;<wbr>preserve&nbsp;and&nbsp;then&nbsp;put&nbsp;a&nbsp;3,000-meter&nbsp;(9,800-foot)&nbsp;<wbr>concrete&nbsp;runway&nbsp;and&nbsp;four&nbsp;<wbr>facilities&nbsp;there,&nbsp;right?\u201d&nbsp;<wbr>Powell&nbsp;said.<br \/>Building&nbsp;islands&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>Spratlys&nbsp;makes&nbsp;more&nbsp;strategic&nbsp;<wbr>sense,&nbsp;because&nbsp;they&nbsp;are&nbsp;<wbr>farther&nbsp;from&nbsp;China\u2019s&nbsp;shores&nbsp;than&nbsp;<wbr>Scarborough&nbsp;Shoal,&nbsp;Poling&nbsp;<wbr>said.<br \/>\u201cChina&nbsp;certainly&nbsp;doesn\u2019t&nbsp;need&nbsp;<wbr>an&nbsp;airstrip&nbsp;or&nbsp;another&nbsp;deep-<wbr>water&nbsp;harbor&nbsp;there.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/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_-7035162157952588202m_-3627838002053692312fc-id-141\" style=\"text-align:left;word-break:break-all;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:&quot;Meiryo UI&quot;,Meiryo,&quot;MS PGothic&quot;,Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:1.8;width:100%\">\n<p style=\"margin:0px\"><b><span style=\"color:rgb(35,34,228)\">Associated Press<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<\/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:100%\"><a style=\"color:rgb(51,122,183)\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/south-china-sea-scarborough-shoal-china-philippines-3b9e648e72573794a71ab35d32030611\" target=\"_blank\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?hl=ja&amp;q=https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/south-china-sea-scarborough-shoal-china-philippines-3b9e648e72573794a71ab35d32030611&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1760275260706000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2wPjJi-q6zGathRQGUba1Z\" rel=\"noopener\"><span><span>https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/<wbr>south-china-sea-scarborough-<wbr>shoal-china-philippines-<wbr>3b9e648e72573794a71ab35d320306<wbr>11<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/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;\">9\/18<\/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_-7035162157952588202m_-3627838002053692312fc-id-142\" style=\"text-align:left;word-break:break-all;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:&quot;Meiryo UI&quot;,Meiryo,&quot;MS PGothic&quot;,Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:1.8;width:100%\">\n<p style=\"margin:0px\"><font color=\"#2322e4\"><\/font>Japan&#8217;s&nbsp;Prime&nbsp;Minister&nbsp;Ishiba&nbsp;<wbr>met&nbsp;with&nbsp;officials&nbsp;from&nbsp;<wbr>maritime&nbsp;security&nbsp;agencies&nbsp;of&nbsp;<wbr>various Asian&nbsp;countries&nbsp;who&nbsp;had&nbsp;undergone&nbsp;<wbr>training&nbsp;in&nbsp;Japan,&nbsp;<wbr>encouraging&nbsp;them&nbsp;to&nbsp;exert&nbsp;<wbr>their&nbsp;utmost efforts&nbsp;toward&nbsp;strengthening&nbsp;a&nbsp;free&nbsp;<wbr>and&nbsp;open&nbsp;international&nbsp;order&nbsp;<wbr>based&nbsp;on&nbsp;the&nbsp;rule&nbsp;of&nbsp;law.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">The JCG&nbsp;has&nbsp;been&nbsp;accepting&nbsp;<wbr>personnel&nbsp;from&nbsp;maritime&nbsp;<wbr>security&nbsp;agencies&nbsp;across&nbsp;Asia&nbsp;<wbr>as&nbsp;trainees&nbsp;to strengthen&nbsp;cooperation.&nbsp;On&nbsp;<wbr>September&nbsp;18,&nbsp;eight&nbsp;trainees&nbsp;<wbr>from&nbsp;India,&nbsp;the&nbsp;Philippines,&nbsp;Sri&nbsp;Lanka, and&nbsp;other&nbsp;countries&nbsp;who&nbsp;had&nbsp;<wbr>completed&nbsp;a&nbsp;one-year&nbsp;training&nbsp;<wbr>program&nbsp;met&nbsp;with&nbsp;Prime&nbsp;Minister Ishiba&nbsp;at&nbsp;the&nbsp;Prime&nbsp;Minister&#8217;<wbr>s&nbsp;Official&nbsp;Residence.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">Among&nbsp;them,&nbsp;a&nbsp;Lieutenant&nbsp;<wbr>Commander&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;Indian&nbsp;Coast&nbsp;<wbr>Guard&nbsp;stated&nbsp;his&nbsp;resolve:&nbsp;\u201cWe&nbsp;developed&nbsp;the&nbsp;ability&nbsp;to&nbsp;<wbr>think&nbsp;from&nbsp;multiple&nbsp;<wbr>perspectives&nbsp;and&nbsp;discuss&nbsp;<wbr>solutions&nbsp;to&nbsp;various&nbsp;maritime&nbsp;issues.&nbsp;We&nbsp;will&nbsp;<wbr>leverage&nbsp;this&nbsp;experience&nbsp;to&nbsp;<wbr>ensure&nbsp;a&nbsp;safe&nbsp;and&nbsp;secure&nbsp;<wbr>maritime&nbsp;environment&nbsp;based&nbsp;on&nbsp;the&nbsp;rule&nbsp;<wbr>of&nbsp;law.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">In&nbsp;response,&nbsp;Prime&nbsp;Minister&nbsp;<wbr>Ishiba&nbsp;stated, while&nbsp;attempts&nbsp;to&nbsp;<wbr>unilaterally&nbsp;alter&nbsp;the&nbsp;status&nbsp;<wbr>quo&nbsp;by&nbsp;force&nbsp;continue&nbsp;around&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>world,&nbsp;it&nbsp;is&nbsp;increasingly&nbsp;<wbr>necessary&nbsp;to&nbsp;uphold&nbsp;and&nbsp;<wbr>strengthen&nbsp;a&nbsp;free&nbsp;and&nbsp;open&nbsp;international&nbsp;order&nbsp;<wbr>based&nbsp;on&nbsp;the&nbsp;rule&nbsp;of&nbsp;law.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">He&nbsp;then&nbsp;encouraged&nbsp;them,&nbsp;<wbr>saying,&nbsp;&#8220;Under&nbsp;our&nbsp;shared&nbsp;<wbr>values,&nbsp;I&nbsp;hope&nbsp;that&nbsp;you&nbsp;will&nbsp;<wbr>collaborate&nbsp;and&nbsp;strive&nbsp;together&nbsp;to&nbsp;make&nbsp;a&nbsp;<wbr>significant&nbsp;contribution&nbsp;to&nbsp;<wbr>the&nbsp;peace,&nbsp;security,&nbsp;and&nbsp;<wbr>development&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;Indo-Pacific&nbsp;region.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/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_-7035162157952588202m_-3627838002053692312fc-id-143\" style=\"text-align:left;word-break:break-all;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:&quot;Meiryo UI&quot;,Meiryo,&quot;MS PGothic&quot;,Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:1.8;width:100%\">\n<p style=\"margin:0px\"><span style=\"color:rgb(35,34,228)\"><b>NHK News (Japanese)&nbsp;<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<\/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:100%\"><a style=\"color:rgb(51,122,183)\" href=\"https:\/\/www3.nhk.or.jp\/news\/html\/20250918\/k10014926311000.html\" target=\"_blank\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?hl=ja&amp;q=https:\/\/www3.nhk.or.jp\/news\/html\/20250918\/k10014926311000.html&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1760275260706000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3r77UNvUhY81a6OtSp_U70\" rel=\"noopener\"><span><span>https:\/\/www3.nhk.or.jp\/news\/<wbr>html\/20250918\/k10014926311000.<wbr>html<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/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;\">9\/19<\/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_-7035162157952588202m_-3627838002053692312fc-id-144\" style=\"text-align:left;word-break:break-all;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:&quot;Meiryo UI&quot;,Meiryo,&quot;MS PGothic&quot;,Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:1.8;width:100%\">\n<p style=\"margin:0px\"><font color=\"#2322e4\"><\/font>Japan-Australia-New Zealand-ROK Vice Foreign Ministerial Meeting (excerpt)\n                                    <\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">On September 19, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and the Republic of Korea (ROK) virtually held&nbsp;a quadrilateral Vice Foreign Ministerial Meeting. The overview of the events is as follows.\n                                    <\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp;\u3000<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">They&nbsp;engaged&nbsp;in&nbsp;a&nbsp;candid&nbsp;<wbr>exchange&nbsp;of&nbsp;views&nbsp;on&nbsp;issues&nbsp;<wbr>such&nbsp;as&nbsp;recent&nbsp;developments&nbsp;<wbr>in&nbsp;the&nbsp;Indo-Pacific&nbsp;region&nbsp;and&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>strengthening&nbsp;of&nbsp;partnerships&nbsp;<wbr>among&nbsp;like-minded&nbsp;countries&nbsp;<wbr>across&nbsp;the&nbsp;region,&nbsp;including&nbsp;<wbr>cooperation&nbsp;between&nbsp;NATO&nbsp;and&nbsp;<wbr>the&nbsp;Indo-Pacific&nbsp;partners&nbsp;(<wbr>IP4).<br \/>&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">They&nbsp;confirmed&nbsp;the&nbsp;importance&nbsp;<wbr>of&nbsp;further&nbsp;strengthening&nbsp;<wbr>coordination&nbsp;among&nbsp;them&nbsp;to&nbsp;<wbr>maintain&nbsp;and&nbsp;strengthen&nbsp;a&nbsp;free&nbsp;and&nbsp;<wbr>open&nbsp;international&nbsp;order&nbsp;<wbr>based&nbsp;on&nbsp;the&nbsp;rule&nbsp;of&nbsp;law,&nbsp;as&nbsp;<wbr>the&nbsp;international&nbsp;situation&nbsp;has&nbsp;become&nbsp;<wbr>increasingly&nbsp;severe.&nbsp;They&nbsp;<wbr>also&nbsp;concurred&nbsp;on&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>importance&nbsp;of&nbsp;continuing&nbsp;their&nbsp;communication&nbsp;in&nbsp;<wbr>various&nbsp;ways.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/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_-7035162157952588202m_-3627838002053692312fc-id-145\" style=\"text-align:left;word-break:break-all;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:&quot;Meiryo UI&quot;,Meiryo,&quot;MS PGothic&quot;,Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:1.8;width:100%\">\n<p style=\"margin:0px\"><span style=\"color:rgb(35,34,228)\"><b>Ministry of Foreign Affairs&nbsp;of Japan&nbsp;<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<\/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:100%\"><a style=\"color:rgb(51,122,183)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mofa.go.jp\/press\/release\/pressite_000001_01681.html\" target=\"_blank\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?hl=ja&amp;q=https:\/\/www.mofa.go.jp\/press\/release\/pressite_000001_01681.html&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1760275260706000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2NOhjdSIoVTGSEHABJTQsC\" rel=\"noopener\"><span><span>https:\/\/www.mofa.go.jp\/press\/<wbr>release\/pressite_000001_01681.<wbr>html<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/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;\">9\/19<\/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_-7035162157952588202m_-3627838002053692312fc-id-146\" style=\"text-align:left;word-break:break-all;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:&quot;Meiryo UI&quot;,Meiryo,&quot;MS PGothic&quot;,Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:1.8;width:100%\">\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">At&nbsp;least&nbsp;two&nbsp;Chinese&nbsp;crew&nbsp;<wbr>members&nbsp;died&nbsp;in&nbsp;a&nbsp;collision&nbsp;<wbr>last&nbsp;month&nbsp;between&nbsp;Chinese&nbsp;<wbr>vessels&nbsp;tracking&nbsp;a&nbsp;Philippine&nbsp;<wbr>government&nbsp;ship&nbsp;near&nbsp;<wbr>Scarborough&nbsp;Shoal&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>South&nbsp;China&nbsp;Sea,&nbsp;Bloomberg&nbsp;News&nbsp;reported&nbsp;on&nbsp;<wbr>September&nbsp;18,&nbsp;citing&nbsp;a&nbsp;senior&nbsp;<wbr>Philippine&nbsp;government&nbsp;<wbr>official.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">The&nbsp;incident&nbsp;occurred&nbsp;on&nbsp;<wbr>August&nbsp;11.&nbsp;Off&nbsp;the&nbsp;coast&nbsp;of&nbsp;<wbr>Scarborough&nbsp;Shoal,&nbsp;a&nbsp;China&nbsp;<wbr>Coast&nbsp;Guard&nbsp;vessel&nbsp;and&nbsp;a&nbsp;Chinese&nbsp;naval&nbsp;<wbr>vessel&nbsp;collided,&nbsp;severely&nbsp;<wbr>damaging&nbsp;the&nbsp;bow&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;Coast&nbsp;<wbr>Guard&nbsp;vessel.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">Chinese&nbsp;authorities&nbsp;have&nbsp;not&nbsp;<wbr>disclosed&nbsp;the&nbsp;number&nbsp;of&nbsp;<wbr>casualties.&nbsp;However,&nbsp;<wbr>following&nbsp;the&nbsp;incident,&nbsp;China&nbsp;has&nbsp;intensified&nbsp;its&nbsp;<wbr>coercive&nbsp;actions&nbsp;around&nbsp;<wbr>Scarborough&nbsp;Shoal.&nbsp;In&nbsp;early&nbsp;<wbr>September,&nbsp;China&nbsp;designated&nbsp;the&nbsp;shoal&nbsp;as&nbsp;a&nbsp;<wbr>national&nbsp;\u201cnature&nbsp;reserve\u201d&nbsp;and&nbsp;<wbr>announced&nbsp;it&nbsp;would&nbsp;\u201c<wbr>strengthen&nbsp;law&nbsp;enforcement\u201d&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;area.&nbsp;On&nbsp;<wbr>September&nbsp;16,&nbsp;a&nbsp;Chinese&nbsp;Coast&nbsp;<wbr>Guard&nbsp;vessel&nbsp;used&nbsp;a&nbsp;water&nbsp;<wbr>cannon&nbsp;against&nbsp;a&nbsp;Philippine&nbsp;<wbr>government&nbsp;ship&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>vicinity&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;shoal,&nbsp;<wbr>injuring&nbsp;one&nbsp;Philippine&nbsp;crew&nbsp;member.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">Philippine&nbsp;National&nbsp;Security&nbsp;<wbr>Adviser&nbsp;A\u00f1o&nbsp;told&nbsp;the&nbsp;media&nbsp;<wbr>that&nbsp;China,&nbsp;having&nbsp;&#8220;suffered&nbsp;<wbr>a&nbsp;great&nbsp;embarrassment&#8221;&nbsp;from&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>collision&nbsp;incident,&nbsp;is&nbsp;now&nbsp;in&nbsp;<wbr>a&nbsp;position&nbsp;where&nbsp;it&nbsp;has&nbsp;no&nbsp;<wbr>choice&nbsp;but&nbsp;to&nbsp;take&nbsp;a&nbsp;hardline&nbsp;stance.&nbsp;When&nbsp;<wbr>asked&nbsp;about&nbsp;the&nbsp;incident&nbsp;at&nbsp;a&nbsp;<wbr>press&nbsp;conference&nbsp;on&nbsp;September&nbsp;<wbr>18,&nbsp;Chinese&nbsp;Foreign&nbsp;Ministry&nbsp;<wbr>Deputy&nbsp;Spokesperson&nbsp;Lin&nbsp;Jian&nbsp;<wbr>stated,&nbsp;&#8220;The&nbsp;Philippine&nbsp;side&nbsp;<wbr>infringed&nbsp;upon&nbsp;China&#8217;s&nbsp;sovereignty&nbsp;and&nbsp;<wbr>threatened&nbsp;the&nbsp;safety&nbsp;of&nbsp;our&nbsp;<wbr>crew&nbsp;members,&#8221;&nbsp;but&nbsp;avoided&nbsp;mentioning&nbsp;casualties.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/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_-7035162157952588202m_-3627838002053692312fc-id-147\" style=\"text-align:left;word-break:break-all;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:&quot;Meiryo UI&quot;,Meiryo,&quot;MS PGothic&quot;,Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:1.8;width:100%\">\n<p style=\"margin:0px\"><span style=\"color:rgb(35,34,228)\"><\/span><b><span style=\"color:rgb(35,34,228)\">Jiji Press News (Japanese)<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<\/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:100%\"><a style=\"color:rgb(51,122,183)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.jiji.com\/jc\/article?k=2025091900771&amp;g=int\" target=\"_blank\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?hl=ja&amp;q=https:\/\/www.jiji.com\/jc\/article?k%3D2025091900771%26g%3Dint&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1760275260706000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0kFkpxBIn6TI7f7IzgcqM4\" rel=\"noopener\"><span><span>https:\/\/www.jiji.com\/jc\/<wbr>article?k=2025091900771&amp;g=int<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/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;\">9\/22<\/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_-7035162157952588202m_-3627838002053692312fc-id-148\" style=\"text-align:left;word-break:break-all;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:&quot;Meiryo UI&quot;,Meiryo,&quot;MS PGothic&quot;,Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:1.8;width:100%\">\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">On&nbsp;September&nbsp;17,&nbsp;as&nbsp;part&nbsp;of&nbsp;<wbr>Japan&#8217;s&nbsp;Ministry&nbsp;of&nbsp;Foreign&nbsp;<wbr>Affairs&#8217;&nbsp;&#8220;Territorial&nbsp;<wbr>Sovereignty&nbsp;and&nbsp;Historical&nbsp;Research&nbsp;Support&nbsp;<wbr>Project,&#8221;&nbsp;three&nbsp;short-term&nbsp;<wbr>overseas&nbsp;fellows&nbsp;visited&nbsp;<wbr>Ishigaki City,&nbsp;Okinawa Prefecture. They&nbsp;toured&nbsp;the&nbsp;Senkaku&nbsp;<wbr>Islands&nbsp;Information&nbsp;Center&nbsp;<wbr>established&nbsp;by&nbsp;the&nbsp;city within the Euglena&nbsp;Ishigaki&nbsp;Port&nbsp;Remote&nbsp;<wbr>Island&nbsp;Terminal.&nbsp;This&nbsp;marks&nbsp;<wbr>the&nbsp;fourth&nbsp;time&nbsp;the&nbsp;city&nbsp;has hosted such&nbsp;fellows.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">Three&nbsp;young&nbsp;researchers&nbsp;<wbr>affiliated&nbsp;with&nbsp;universities&nbsp;<wbr>and&nbsp;think&nbsp;tanks&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>Philippines,&nbsp;Malaysia,&nbsp;and&nbsp;Brunei&nbsp;participated,&nbsp;<wbr>along&nbsp;with&nbsp;one&nbsp;researcher&nbsp;<wbr>from&nbsp;the&nbsp;Japan&nbsp;Foundation.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">This&nbsp;program&nbsp;aims&nbsp;to&nbsp;deepen&nbsp;<wbr>understanding&nbsp;of&nbsp;Japan&#8217;s&nbsp;<wbr>territorial,&nbsp;sovereignty,&nbsp;and&nbsp;<wbr>historical&nbsp;issues,&nbsp;while&nbsp;also&nbsp;<wbr>cultivating&nbsp;individuals&nbsp;who&nbsp;<wbr>will&nbsp;serve&nbsp;as&nbsp;network&nbsp;hubs&nbsp;<wbr>for&nbsp;future&nbsp;exchanges&nbsp;with&nbsp;Japan&nbsp;in&nbsp;their&nbsp;<wbr>respective&nbsp;countries.&nbsp;From&nbsp;<wbr>September&nbsp;to&nbsp;November,&nbsp;<wbr>participants&nbsp;will&nbsp;engage&nbsp;in&nbsp;discussions&nbsp;with&nbsp;Japanese&nbsp;<wbr>government&nbsp;officials&nbsp;and&nbsp;<wbr>experts,&nbsp;attend&nbsp;symposiums,&nbsp;<wbr>and&nbsp;visit&nbsp;territorial-related&nbsp;<wbr>facilities&nbsp;across&nbsp;Japan.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">At&nbsp;the&nbsp;Senkaku&nbsp;Islands&nbsp;<wbr>Information&nbsp;Center,&nbsp;Takanori&nbsp;<wbr>Endo,&nbsp;Deputy&nbsp;Director&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>Senkaku&nbsp;Islands&nbsp;Countermeasures&nbsp;<wbr>Office&nbsp;and&nbsp;Assistant&nbsp;Director&nbsp;<wbr>of&nbsp;the&nbsp;Planning&nbsp;and&nbsp;Policy&nbsp;<wbr>Division&nbsp;of&nbsp;Ishigaki&nbsp;City,&nbsp;provided&nbsp;an&nbsp;<wbr>explanation.&nbsp;He&nbsp;shared&nbsp;<wbr>information&nbsp;about&nbsp;settlements&nbsp;<wbr>and&nbsp;a&nbsp;bonito&nbsp;flakes&nbsp;factory&nbsp;once&nbsp;existed&nbsp;<wbr>on&nbsp;the&nbsp;Senkaku&nbsp;Islands,&nbsp;as&nbsp;<wbr>well&nbsp;as&nbsp;an&nbsp;incident&nbsp;in&nbsp;which&nbsp;<wbr>Japanese&nbsp;personnel&nbsp;in&nbsp;Okinawa&nbsp;rescued&nbsp;<wbr>a&nbsp;distressed&nbsp;fishing&nbsp;boat&nbsp;<wbr>from&nbsp;the&nbsp;Republic&nbsp;of&nbsp;China,&nbsp;<wbr>for&nbsp;which&nbsp;a&nbsp;letter&nbsp;of&nbsp;appreciation&nbsp;was&nbsp;<wbr>later&nbsp;sent.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">The&nbsp;researchers&nbsp;asked&nbsp;<wbr>questions&nbsp;such&nbsp;as&nbsp;&#8220;How&nbsp;do&nbsp;you&nbsp;<wbr>respond&nbsp;to&nbsp;Chinese&nbsp;government&nbsp;<wbr>vessels&nbsp;during&nbsp;surveys?&#8221;&nbsp;and&nbsp;&#8220;Is&nbsp;<wbr>there&nbsp;a&nbsp;fundamental&nbsp;solution&nbsp;<wbr>to&nbsp;the&nbsp;issue?&#8221;&nbsp;Endo&nbsp;replied,&nbsp;&#8220;<wbr>A&nbsp;peaceful&nbsp;resolution&nbsp;is&nbsp;desirable,&nbsp;but&nbsp;<wbr>the&nbsp;current&nbsp;situation&nbsp;<wbr>requires&nbsp;constant&nbsp;patrol&nbsp;by&nbsp;<wbr>the&nbsp;JCG.\u201d&nbsp;He&nbsp;also&nbsp;introduced&nbsp;the&nbsp;city&#8217;s&nbsp;ongoing&nbsp;<wbr>efforts&nbsp;to&nbsp;make&nbsp;a&nbsp;film&nbsp;about&nbsp;<wbr>the&nbsp;Senkaku&nbsp;distress&nbsp;incident&nbsp;<wbr>and&nbsp;its&nbsp;current&nbsp;requests&nbsp;to&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>national&nbsp;government&nbsp;for&nbsp;<wbr>landing&nbsp;surveys&nbsp;and&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>installation&nbsp;of&nbsp;a&nbsp;lighthouse.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">One&nbsp;researcher&nbsp;stated,&nbsp;&#8220;In&nbsp;<wbr>Indonesia,&nbsp;China&#8217;s&nbsp;claims&nbsp;<wbr>tend&nbsp;to&nbsp;spread,&nbsp;but&nbsp;I&nbsp;have&nbsp;<wbr>learned&nbsp;a&nbsp;lot&nbsp;about&nbsp;the&nbsp;history&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>Senkaku&nbsp;Islands.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">Masao&nbsp;Kochi,&nbsp;Director&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>Center&nbsp;for&nbsp;Territory&nbsp;and&nbsp;<wbr>History&nbsp;at&nbsp;the&nbsp;Japan&nbsp;<wbr>Institute&nbsp;of&nbsp;International&nbsp;Affairs,&nbsp;<wbr>expressed&nbsp;his&nbsp;hopes,&nbsp;stating,&nbsp;<wbr>&#8220;Like&nbsp;Japan,&nbsp;Southeast&nbsp;Asian&nbsp;<wbr>countries&nbsp;also&nbsp;face&nbsp;issues&nbsp;with&nbsp;China.&nbsp;It&nbsp;is&nbsp;<wbr>important&nbsp;for&nbsp;young&nbsp;<wbr>researchers&nbsp;to&nbsp;understand&nbsp;<wbr>Japan&#8217;s&nbsp;position.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">The&nbsp;group&nbsp;also&nbsp;toured&nbsp;<wbr>facilities&nbsp;such&nbsp;as&nbsp;the&nbsp;Japan&nbsp;<wbr>Coast&nbsp;Guard&#8217;s&nbsp;berths&nbsp;that&nbsp;day.<wbr>&nbsp;During&nbsp;their&nbsp;stay,&nbsp;they&nbsp;plan&nbsp;to&nbsp;visit&nbsp;<wbr>facilities&nbsp;related&nbsp;to&nbsp;<wbr>Takeshima&nbsp;(Shimane&nbsp;Prefecture)<wbr>&nbsp;and&nbsp;the&nbsp;Northern&nbsp;Territories&nbsp;(Hokkaido&nbsp;<wbr>Prefecture).&nbsp;After&nbsp;returning&nbsp;<wbr>home,&nbsp;they&nbsp;are&nbsp;expected&nbsp;to&nbsp;<wbr>submit&nbsp;papers&nbsp;based&nbsp;on&nbsp;this&nbsp;training.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/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_-7035162157952588202m_-3627838002053692312fc-id-149\" style=\"text-align:left;word-break:break-all;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:&quot;Meiryo UI&quot;,Meiryo,&quot;MS PGothic&quot;,Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:1.8;width:100%\">\n<p style=\"margin:0px\"><b><span style=\"color:rgb(35,34,228)\">Sankei Shimbun News (Japanese)<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<\/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:100%\"><a style=\"color:rgb(51,122,183)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sankei.com\/article\/20250922-LMOVSHZJF5KZZKOC4R2NBNQSPA\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?hl=ja&amp;q=https:\/\/www.sankei.com\/article\/20250922-LMOVSHZJF5KZZKOC4R2NBNQSPA\/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1760275260706000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3zCLZPYsqUhZ9_SmzY0TKi\" rel=\"noopener\"><span><span>https:\/\/www.sankei.com\/<wbr>article\/20250922-<wbr>LMOVSHZJF5KZZKOC4R2NBNQSPA\/<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/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;\">9\/22<\/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_-7035162157952588202m_-3627838002053692312fc-id-150\" style=\"text-align:left;word-break:break-all;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:&quot;Meiryo UI&quot;,Meiryo,&quot;MS PGothic&quot;,Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:1.8;width:100%\">\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">On&nbsp;September&nbsp;20,&nbsp;the&nbsp;JMSDF&nbsp;<wbr>confirmed&nbsp;one&nbsp;Chinese&nbsp;<wbr>Dongdiao&nbsp;class&nbsp;Intelligence&nbsp;<wbr>ship&nbsp;(hull&nbsp;number 791)&nbsp;sailing&nbsp;southeast&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>waters&nbsp;90km&nbsp;southwest&nbsp;of&nbsp;<wbr>Kumejima&nbsp;Island&nbsp;(Okinawa&nbsp;Prefecture).&nbsp;<br \/>These&nbsp;vessels&nbsp;sailed&nbsp;<wbr>southeast&nbsp;through&nbsp;the&nbsp;waters&nbsp;<wbr>between&nbsp;Okinawajima&nbsp;Island&nbsp;<wbr>and&nbsp;Miyakojima&nbsp;Island&nbsp;and&nbsp;navigated&nbsp;to&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>Pacific&nbsp;Ocean.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/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=\"299\" style=\"display:block;margin:0 auto;vertical-align:top;max-width:100%;height:auto;width:auto\" src=\"https:\/\/ci3.googleusercontent.com\/meips\/ADKq_NYoCSM2jm_-VYHEj0qu9No34TM8-V2k0Qky7nwPc3iAEwYqg2I8a2K7CRUhWSEG7b6xB31RpjwDxT_Hc5FqlhbTjWfyK9JZcQvrVsExyJFAdh3U4K1X2lTi8CWQhLOwgr78tyo=s0-d-e1-ft#https:\/\/gy53-cdn.asp.cuenote.jp\/0000013c\/202510\/00024f7b\/0011-9dcdaee283f5.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_-7035162157952588202m_-3627838002053692312fc-id-151\" style=\"text-align:left;word-break:break-all;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:&quot;Meiryo UI&quot;,Meiryo,&quot;MS PGothic&quot;,Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:1.8;width:100%\">\n<p style=\"margin:0px\"><b><span style=\"color:rgb(35,34,228)\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\"><b><span style=\"color:rgb(35,34,228)\">Japan Joint Staff<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<\/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:100%\"><a style=\"color:rgb(51,122,183)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mod.go.jp\/js\/pdf\/2025\/p20250822_01.pdfhttps:\/\/www.mod.go.jp\/js\/pdf\/2025\/p20250821_02.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?hl=ja&amp;q=https:\/\/www.mod.go.jp\/js\/pdf\/2025\/p20250822_01.pdfhttps:\/\/www.mod.go.jp\/js\/pdf\/2025\/p20250821_02.pdf&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1760275260707000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0vlywq__-rs3b_18ANsfhc\" rel=\"noopener\"><span><span>https:\/\/www.mod.go.jp\/js\/pdf\/<wbr>2025\/p20250822_01.pdf<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/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;\">9\/22<\/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_-7035162157952588202m_-3627838002053692312fc-id-152\" style=\"text-align:left;word-break:break-all;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:&quot;Meiryo UI&quot;,Meiryo,&quot;MS PGothic&quot;,Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:1.8;width:100%\">\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">Japan-U.S.-ROK&nbsp;Foreign&nbsp;<wbr>Ministers\u2019&nbsp;Meeting&nbsp;(excerpt)\u3000<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">On&nbsp;September&nbsp;22,&nbsp;Japan,&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>United&nbsp;States,&nbsp;and&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>Republic&nbsp;of&nbsp;Korea&nbsp;(ROK)&nbsp;held&nbsp;<wbr>a&nbsp;trilateral&nbsp;Foreign&nbsp;Ministers\u2019&nbsp;Meeting&nbsp;in&nbsp;<wbr>New&nbsp;York,&nbsp;the&nbsp;United&nbsp;States.&nbsp;<wbr>The&nbsp;overview&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;meeting&nbsp;<wbr>is&nbsp;as&nbsp;follows.<br \/>After&nbsp;the&nbsp;meeting,&nbsp;the&nbsp;Japan-<wbr>U.S.-ROK&nbsp;Trilateral&nbsp;Joint&nbsp;<wbr>Statement&nbsp;was&nbsp;released.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">\u3000<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">The&nbsp;three&nbsp;Ministers&nbsp;<wbr>reaffirmed&nbsp;that,&nbsp;in&nbsp;light&nbsp;of&nbsp;<wbr>the&nbsp;increasingly&nbsp;severe&nbsp;<wbr>strategic&nbsp;environment&nbsp;that&nbsp;the&nbsp;three&nbsp;countries&nbsp;face,&nbsp;it&nbsp;<wbr>remains&nbsp;important&nbsp;to&nbsp;<wbr>strengthen&nbsp;the&nbsp;solidarity&nbsp;<wbr>among&nbsp;the&nbsp;three&nbsp;countries,&nbsp;uphold&nbsp;a&nbsp;free&nbsp;and&nbsp;<wbr>open&nbsp;international&nbsp;order&nbsp;<wbr>based&nbsp;on&nbsp;the&nbsp;rule&nbsp;of&nbsp;law,&nbsp;and&nbsp;<wbr>continue&nbsp;to&nbsp;show&nbsp;the&nbsp;robust&nbsp;Japan-U.S.&nbsp;<wbr>and&nbsp;U.S.-ROK&nbsp;alliances&nbsp;as&nbsp;<wbr>well&nbsp;as&nbsp;the&nbsp;strategic coordination&nbsp;of these&nbsp;alliances.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">\u3000<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">Furthermore,&nbsp;the&nbsp;three&nbsp;<wbr>Ministers&nbsp;exchanged&nbsp;their&nbsp;<wbr>views&nbsp;on&nbsp;regional&nbsp;situations,&nbsp;<wbr>including&nbsp;unilateral&nbsp;attempts&nbsp;to&nbsp;change&nbsp;<wbr>the&nbsp;status&nbsp;quo&nbsp;by&nbsp;force&nbsp;or&nbsp;<wbr>coercion,&nbsp;and&nbsp;reaffirmed&nbsp;that&nbsp;<wbr>the&nbsp;three&nbsp;countries&nbsp;would&nbsp;work&nbsp;closely&nbsp;<wbr>together.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">\u3000<\/p>\n<\/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_-7035162157952588202m_-3627838002053692312fc-id-153\" style=\"text-align:left;word-break:break-all;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:&quot;Meiryo UI&quot;,Meiryo,&quot;MS PGothic&quot;,Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:1.8;width:100%\">\n<p style=\"margin:0px\"><b><span style=\"color:rgb(35,34,228)\">Ministry of Foreign Affairs&nbsp;of Japan<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<\/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:100%\"><a style=\"color:rgb(51,122,183)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mofa.go.jp\/a_o\/na2\/pageite_000001_00004.html\" target=\"_blank\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?hl=ja&amp;q=https:\/\/www.mofa.go.jp\/a_o\/na2\/pageite_000001_00004.html&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1760275260707000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2wthaeWc7L6B7ZOghvJUuA\" rel=\"noopener\"><span><span>https:\/\/www.mofa.go.jp\/a_o\/<wbr>na2\/pageite_000001_00004.html<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/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;\">9\/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_-7035162157952588202m_-3627838002053692312fc-id-154\" style=\"text-align:left;word-break:break-all;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:&quot;Meiryo UI&quot;,Meiryo,&quot;MS PGothic&quot;,Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:1.8;width:100%\">\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">Meeting&nbsp;between&nbsp;Europe&nbsp;and&nbsp;<wbr>Indo-Pacific&nbsp;Partners&nbsp;(<wbr>Australia,&nbsp;France,&nbsp;Germany,&nbsp;<wbr>Japan, New&nbsp;Zealand, Poland,&nbsp;the&nbsp;Republic&nbsp;of&nbsp;Korea,<wbr>&nbsp;the&nbsp;United&nbsp;Kingdom)&nbsp;(excerpt)<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">On&nbsp;September&nbsp;23,&nbsp;a&nbsp;meeting&nbsp;of&nbsp;<wbr>four&nbsp;European&nbsp;countries&nbsp;(<wbr>Germany,&nbsp;France,&nbsp;the&nbsp;United&nbsp;<wbr>Kingdom,&nbsp;and&nbsp;Poland)&nbsp;and&nbsp;four&nbsp;Indo-<wbr>Pacific&nbsp;countries&nbsp;(Japan,&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>Republic&nbsp;of&nbsp;Korea,&nbsp;Australia, and&nbsp;New&nbsp;Zealand)&nbsp;was&nbsp;held&nbsp;in&nbsp;New&nbsp;York,<wbr>&nbsp;the&nbsp;United&nbsp;States,&nbsp;at&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>suggestion&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;German&nbsp;<wbr>Minister&nbsp;for&nbsp;Foreign&nbsp;Affairs.&nbsp;The&nbsp;overview&nbsp;<wbr>of&nbsp;the&nbsp;meeting&nbsp;is&nbsp;as&nbsp;follows.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">They&nbsp;exchanged&nbsp;views&nbsp;on&nbsp;<wbr>security&nbsp;issues&nbsp;facing&nbsp;both&nbsp;<wbr>the&nbsp;European&nbsp;and&nbsp;Indo-Pacific&nbsp;<wbr>regions.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">Japan&#8217;s&nbsp;Minister&nbsp;Iwaya&nbsp;stated&nbsp;<wbr>that&nbsp;as&nbsp;the&nbsp;international&nbsp;<wbr>order&nbsp;faces&nbsp;severe&nbsp;challenges,<wbr>&nbsp;it&nbsp;is&nbsp;meaningful&nbsp;to&nbsp;exchange&nbsp;views&nbsp;<wbr>among&nbsp;countries&nbsp;that&nbsp;share&nbsp;<wbr>values&nbsp;and&nbsp;principles&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>European&nbsp;and&nbsp;Indo-Pacific&nbsp;regions.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">On&nbsp;the&nbsp;recognition&nbsp;that&nbsp;<wbr>security&nbsp;and&nbsp;the&nbsp;economy&nbsp;in&nbsp;<wbr>Europe&nbsp;and&nbsp;the&nbsp;Indo-Pacific&nbsp;<wbr>are&nbsp;closely&nbsp;intertwined, the&nbsp;eight&nbsp;participants&nbsp;also&nbsp;<wbr>discussed&nbsp;the&nbsp;situations&nbsp;in&nbsp;<wbr>Ukraine&nbsp;and East&nbsp;Asia. They&nbsp;shared&nbsp;the&nbsp;view&nbsp;to&nbsp;cooperate&nbsp;<wbr>in&nbsp;strengthening&nbsp;the&nbsp;free&nbsp;and&nbsp;<wbr>open&nbsp;international&nbsp;order&nbsp;<wbr>based&nbsp;on&nbsp;the rule&nbsp;of&nbsp;law&nbsp;and&nbsp;issued&nbsp;a&nbsp;<wbr>Joint&nbsp;Press&nbsp;Statement.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/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_-7035162157952588202m_-3627838002053692312fc-id-155\" style=\"text-align:left;word-break:break-all;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:&quot;Meiryo UI&quot;,Meiryo,&quot;MS PGothic&quot;,Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:1.8;width:100%\">\n<p style=\"margin:0px\"><b><span style=\"color:rgb(35,34,228)\">Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan&nbsp;<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<\/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:100%\"><a style=\"color:rgb(51,122,183)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mofa.go.jp\/erp\/erp_2\/pageite_000001_00004.html\" target=\"_blank\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?hl=ja&amp;q=https:\/\/www.mofa.go.jp\/erp\/erp_2\/pageite_000001_00004.html&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1760275260707000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3kxh6ZbdIuf4jIZp4su5yG\" rel=\"noopener\"><span><span>https:\/\/www.mofa.go.jp\/erp\/<wbr>erp_2\/pageite_000001_00004.<wbr>html<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/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;\">9\/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_-7035162157952588202m_-3627838002053692312fc-id-156\" style=\"text-align:left;word-break:break-all;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:&quot;Meiryo UI&quot;,Meiryo,&quot;MS PGothic&quot;,Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:1.8;width:100%\">\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">Joint&nbsp;G7&nbsp;Foreign&nbsp;Ministers\u2019&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n                                      Statement&nbsp;(excerpt)<br \/>Meeting&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;G7&nbsp;Foreign&nbsp;<wbr>Ministers&nbsp;on&nbsp;the&nbsp;Margins&nbsp;of&nbsp;<wbr>the&nbsp;High-Level&nbsp;Week&nbsp;at&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>United Nations&nbsp;General&nbsp;Assembly&nbsp;in&nbsp;New&nbsp;York<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">On September 23, the G7 Foreign Ministers issued the above-mentioned statement.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">We,&nbsp;the&nbsp;G7&nbsp;Foreign&nbsp;Ministers&nbsp;<wbr>of&nbsp;Canada,&nbsp;France,&nbsp;Germany,&nbsp;<wbr>Italy,&nbsp;Japan,&nbsp;the&nbsp;United&nbsp;<wbr>Kingdom&nbsp;and&nbsp;the&nbsp;United&nbsp;States&nbsp;of&nbsp;America&nbsp;<wbr>and&nbsp;the&nbsp;High&nbsp;Representative&nbsp;<wbr>of&nbsp;the&nbsp;European&nbsp;Union,&nbsp;<wbr>reaffirmed&nbsp;the&nbsp;importance&nbsp;of&nbsp;a&nbsp;free&nbsp;and&nbsp;open&nbsp;<wbr>Indo-Pacific&nbsp;based&nbsp;on&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>rule&nbsp;of&nbsp;law.&nbsp;We&nbsp;reiterated&nbsp;<wbr>our&nbsp;strong&nbsp;opposition&nbsp;to&nbsp;any&nbsp;unilateral&nbsp;<wbr>attempts&nbsp;to&nbsp;change&nbsp;the&nbsp;status&nbsp;<wbr>quo&nbsp;by&nbsp;force&nbsp;or&nbsp;coercion,&nbsp;<wbr>including&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;East&nbsp;China&nbsp;Sea,&nbsp;the&nbsp;South&nbsp;<wbr>China&nbsp;Sea,&nbsp;and&nbsp;across&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>Taiwan&nbsp;Strait.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/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_-7035162157952588202m_-3627838002053692312fc-id-157\" style=\"text-align:left;word-break:break-all;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:&quot;Meiryo UI&quot;,Meiryo,&quot;MS PGothic&quot;,Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:1.8;width:100%\">\n<p style=\"margin:0px\"><b><span style=\"color:rgb(35,34,228)\">Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan&nbsp;<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<\/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:100%\"><a style=\"color:rgb(51,122,183)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mofa.go.jp\/fp\/pc\/pageite_000001_01285.html\" target=\"_blank\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?hl=ja&amp;q=https:\/\/www.mofa.go.jp\/fp\/pc\/pageite_000001_01285.html&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1760275260707000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3UjTzQwNvhWox2319ww08h\" rel=\"noopener\"><span><span>https:\/\/www.mofa.go.jp\/fp\/pc\/<wbr>pageite_000001_01285.html<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/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;\">9\/24<\/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_-7035162157952588202m_-3627838002053692312fc-id-158\" style=\"text-align:left;word-break:break-all;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:&quot;Meiryo UI&quot;,Meiryo,&quot;MS PGothic&quot;,Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:1.8;width:100%\">\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">On&nbsp;September&nbsp;22,&nbsp;the&nbsp;JMSDF&nbsp;<wbr>confirmed&nbsp;two&nbsp;Chinese&nbsp;Luyang&nbsp;<wbr>III&nbsp;class&nbsp;destroyer&nbsp;(hull&nbsp;<wbr>number&nbsp;123&nbsp;and&nbsp;124)&nbsp;and&nbsp;one&nbsp;Chinese&nbsp;<wbr>Fuchi&nbsp;class&nbsp;replenishment&nbsp;<wbr>ship&nbsp;(hull&nbsp;number&nbsp;902)&nbsp;<wbr>sailing&nbsp;northeast&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;waters&nbsp;50km&nbsp;<wbr>northwest&nbsp;of&nbsp;Rebun&nbsp;Island&nbsp;(<wbr>Hokkaido&nbsp;Prefecture).&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">From&nbsp;September&nbsp;22&nbsp;to&nbsp;23,&nbsp;<wbr>these&nbsp;vessels&nbsp;sailed&nbsp;east&nbsp;<wbr>through&nbsp;the&nbsp;Soya&nbsp;Strait.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">\n<\/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=\"300\" style=\"display:block;margin:0 auto;vertical-align:top;max-width:100%;height:auto;width:auto\" src=\"https:\/\/ci3.googleusercontent.com\/meips\/ADKq_NZSmPaCQwQSrMeLZnG9FndekEClCFZHXjH5r26BTQIXWMvYrUsegYevVsz0QOd9bDHDpDxVKukbksR6e7QP5nlW28YQUBhldrsFKSDVWNxkrolpS5iuME97lwEknEhK6lBNJE4=s0-d-e1-ft#https:\/\/gy53-cdn.asp.cuenote.jp\/0000013c\/202510\/00024f7b\/0002-705a772ae103.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_-7035162157952588202m_-3627838002053692312fc-id-159\" style=\"text-align:left;word-break:break-all;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:&quot;Meiryo UI&quot;,Meiryo,&quot;MS PGothic&quot;,Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:1.8;width:100%\">\n<p style=\"margin:0px\"><b><span style=\"color:rgb(35,34,228)\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\"><b><span style=\"color:rgb(35,34,228)\">Japan Joint Staff<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<\/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:100%\"><a style=\"color:rgb(51,122,183)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mod.go.jp\/js\/pdf\/2025\/p20250924_02.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?hl=ja&amp;q=https:\/\/www.mod.go.jp\/js\/pdf\/2025\/p20250924_02.pdf&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1760275260707000&amp;usg=AOvVaw28vqNYEvzuYtjdM0olgqpH\" rel=\"noopener\"><span><span>https:\/\/www.mod.go.jp\/js\/pdf\/<wbr>2025\/p20250924_02.pdf<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/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;\">9\/24<\/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_-7035162157952588202m_-3627838002053692312fc-id-160\" style=\"text-align:left;word-break:break-all;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:&quot;Meiryo UI&quot;,Meiryo,&quot;MS PGothic&quot;,Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:1.8;width:100%\">\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">On&nbsp;September&nbsp;23,&nbsp;the&nbsp;JMSDF&nbsp;<wbr>confirmed&nbsp;one&nbsp;Russian&nbsp;Vishnya&nbsp;<wbr>class&nbsp;Intelligence&nbsp;ship&nbsp;(hull&nbsp;<wbr>number&nbsp;208)&nbsp;sailing&nbsp;northeast&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>waters&nbsp;130km&nbsp;southwest&nbsp;of&nbsp;<wbr>Tsushima&nbsp;Island&nbsp;(Nagasaki&nbsp;<wbr>Prefecture).<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">From&nbsp;September&nbsp;23&nbsp;to&nbsp;24,&nbsp;this&nbsp;<wbr>vessel&nbsp;sailed&nbsp;northeast&nbsp;<wbr>through&nbsp;the&nbsp;Tsushima&nbsp;Strait&nbsp;<wbr>and&nbsp;navigated&nbsp;to&nbsp;the&nbsp;Sea&nbsp;of&nbsp;Japan.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">\n<\/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=\"300\" style=\"display:block;margin:0 auto;vertical-align:top;max-width:100%;height:auto;width:auto\" src=\"https:\/\/ci3.googleusercontent.com\/meips\/ADKq_NZTtMKev4HcfyaP7TsiRoj9R9-ytkPJE8tHyt18tSpcH0jwKV6cN7TCmyaexIx9QvLY_iFhbjuOkj66xesLtSQc6yGNshni3Jcr2kLOJO3cCeDiPB4GIMe_ECbBJFipibLdseA=s0-d-e1-ft#https:\/\/gy53-cdn.asp.cuenote.jp\/0000013c\/202510\/00024f7b\/0003-e182c57c39c5.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_-7035162157952588202m_-3627838002053692312fc-id-161\" style=\"text-align:left;word-break:break-all;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:&quot;Meiryo UI&quot;,Meiryo,&quot;MS PGothic&quot;,Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:1.8;width:100%\">\n<p style=\"margin:0px\"><b><span style=\"color:rgb(35,34,228)\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\"><b><span style=\"color:rgb(35,34,228)\">Japan Joint Staff<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<\/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:100%\"><a style=\"color:rgb(51,122,183)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mod.go.jp\/js\/pdf\/2025\/p20250924_03.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?hl=ja&amp;q=https:\/\/www.mod.go.jp\/js\/pdf\/2025\/p20250924_03.pdf&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1760275260707000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1I66YWryNWZwcjK-Z6UWaQ\" rel=\"noopener\"><span><span>https:\/\/www.mod.go.jp\/js\/pdf\/<wbr>2025\/p20250924_03.pdf<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/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;\">9\/24<\/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_-7035162157952588202m_-3627838002053692312fc-id-162\" style=\"text-align:left;word-break:break-all;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:&quot;Meiryo UI&quot;,Meiryo,&quot;MS PGothic&quot;,Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:1.8;width:100%\">\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">On&nbsp;September&nbsp;24,&nbsp;the&nbsp;JMSDF&nbsp;<wbr>confirmed&nbsp;one&nbsp;Russian&nbsp;Slava&nbsp;<wbr>class&nbsp;cruiser&nbsp;(hull&nbsp;number&nbsp;<wbr>011),&nbsp;one&nbsp;Borei&nbsp;class&nbsp;nuclear-powered&nbsp;<wbr>ballistic&nbsp;missile&nbsp;submarine&nbsp;<wbr>and&nbsp;one&nbsp;Baklazhan&nbsp;class&nbsp;<wbr>rescue&nbsp;tug&nbsp;sailing&nbsp;west&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;waters&nbsp;<wbr>40km&nbsp;northeast&nbsp;of&nbsp;Cape&nbsp;Soya&nbsp;(<wbr>Hokkaido&nbsp;Prefecture).&nbsp;<br \/>Among&nbsp;these,&nbsp;the&nbsp;Borei&nbsp;class&nbsp;<wbr>nuclear-powered&nbsp;ballistic&nbsp;<wbr>missile&nbsp;submarine&nbsp;was confirmed&nbsp;by the&nbsp;JMSDF&nbsp;for&nbsp;the&nbsp;first&nbsp;time.<br \/>These&nbsp;vessels&nbsp;sailed&nbsp;west&nbsp;<wbr>through&nbsp;the&nbsp;Soya&nbsp;Strait.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">\n<\/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=\"299\" style=\"display:block;margin:0 auto;vertical-align:top;max-width:100%;height:auto;width:auto\" src=\"https:\/\/ci3.googleusercontent.com\/meips\/ADKq_Nb6MX_mBPnZo3IPVRr8PKskKEkc4n_gmJAXdFlZaLwPr-4l_0q-pGCj8q4khKUgB1FqSfhmvSgA1FNglMVnFbVSoLk2rYENvs33AKEpegzWBEsiVKTxcPyFYRNwzy1o8SnOPEM=s0-d-e1-ft#https:\/\/gy53-cdn.asp.cuenote.jp\/0000013c\/202510\/00024f7b\/0004-2282781a771c.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_-7035162157952588202m_-3627838002053692312fc-id-163\" style=\"text-align:left;word-break:break-all;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:&quot;Meiryo UI&quot;,Meiryo,&quot;MS PGothic&quot;,Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:1.8;width:100%\">\n<p style=\"margin:0px\"><b><span style=\"color:rgb(35,34,228)\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\"><b><span style=\"color:rgb(35,34,228)\">Japan Joint Staff<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<\/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:100%\"><a style=\"color:rgb(51,122,183)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mod.go.jp\/js\/pdf\/2025\/p20250924_04.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?hl=ja&amp;q=https:\/\/www.mod.go.jp\/js\/pdf\/2025\/p20250924_04.pdf&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1760275260707000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1vxL4npNIQT49InoJ6Ia56\" rel=\"noopener\"><span><span>https:\/\/www.mod.go.jp\/js\/pdf\/<wbr>2025\/p20250924_04.pdf<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/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;\">9\/24<\/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_-7035162157952588202m_-3627838002053692312fc-id-164\" style=\"text-align:left;word-break:break-all;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:&quot;Meiryo UI&quot;,Meiryo,&quot;MS PGothic&quot;,Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:1.8;width:100%\">\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">The&nbsp;Foreign&nbsp;Minister\u2019s&nbsp;<wbr>Meeting&nbsp;\u201cReinforcing&nbsp;Maritime&nbsp;<wbr>Cooperation&nbsp;to&nbsp;Achieve&nbsp;a&nbsp;<wbr>Secure&nbsp;and&nbsp;Stable&nbsp;Maritime&nbsp;Domain\u201d&nbsp;(<wbr>excerpt)<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">On&nbsp;September&nbsp;24,&nbsp;the&nbsp;Foreign&nbsp;<wbr>Ministers\u2019&nbsp;Meeting&nbsp;\u201c<wbr>Reinforcing&nbsp;Maritime&nbsp;<wbr>Cooperation&nbsp;to&nbsp;Achieve&nbsp;a&nbsp;Secure&nbsp;and&nbsp;Stable&nbsp;Maritime&nbsp;<wbr>Domain\u201d&nbsp;was&nbsp;held&nbsp;in&nbsp;New&nbsp;York,&nbsp;<wbr>the&nbsp;United&nbsp;States.&nbsp;The&nbsp;<wbr>overview&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;meeting&nbsp;is&nbsp;as&nbsp;follows.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">Alongside&nbsp;with&nbsp;the&nbsp;co-hosts,&nbsp;<wbr>including&nbsp;Japan,&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>Philippines&nbsp;have&nbsp;taken&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>initiative&nbsp;to&nbsp;convene&nbsp;this&nbsp;meeting&nbsp;as&nbsp;the&nbsp;host,&nbsp;and&nbsp;<wbr>many&nbsp;Foreign&nbsp;Ministers&nbsp;from&nbsp;<wbr>the&nbsp;like-minded&nbsp;countries&nbsp;<wbr>participated&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;meeting.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">At&nbsp;the&nbsp;meeting,&nbsp;Japan\u2019s&nbsp;<wbr>Minister&nbsp;Iwaya&nbsp;pointed&nbsp;out&nbsp;<wbr>that&nbsp;in&nbsp;order&nbsp;to&nbsp;maintain&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>maritime&nbsp;order,&nbsp;it&nbsp;is&nbsp;extremely&nbsp;important&nbsp;to&nbsp;<wbr>comply&nbsp;with&nbsp;international&nbsp;law,<wbr>&nbsp;particularly&nbsp;the&nbsp;United&nbsp;<wbr>Nations&nbsp;Convention&nbsp;on&nbsp;the&nbsp;Law&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>Sea&nbsp;(UNCLOS),&nbsp;which&nbsp;sets&nbsp;out&nbsp;<wbr>the&nbsp;universal&nbsp;and&nbsp;unified&nbsp;<wbr>legal&nbsp;framework&nbsp;governing&nbsp;all&nbsp;<wbr>activities&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;oceans&nbsp;and&nbsp;<wbr>the&nbsp;seas.&nbsp;He&nbsp;also&nbsp;expressed&nbsp;<wbr>that&nbsp;Japan&nbsp;will&nbsp;continue&nbsp;to&nbsp;work&nbsp;with&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>international&nbsp;community,&nbsp;in&nbsp;<wbr>order&nbsp;to&nbsp;uphold&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>international&nbsp;order&nbsp;based&nbsp;on&nbsp;the&nbsp;rule&nbsp;of&nbsp;law&nbsp;and&nbsp;<wbr>achieve&nbsp;a&nbsp;secure&nbsp;and&nbsp;stable&nbsp;<wbr>maritime&nbsp;domain.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/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_-7035162157952588202m_-3627838002053692312fc-id-165\" style=\"text-align:left;word-break:break-all;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:&quot;Meiryo UI&quot;,Meiryo,&quot;MS PGothic&quot;,Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:1.8;width:100%\">\n<p style=\"margin:0px\"><b><span style=\"color:rgb(35,34,228)\">Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan&nbsp;<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<\/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:100%\"><a style=\"color:rgb(51,122,183)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mofa.go.jp\/a_o\/rp\/pageite_000001_01297.html\" target=\"_blank\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?hl=ja&amp;q=https:\/\/www.mofa.go.jp\/a_o\/rp\/pageite_000001_01297.html&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1760275260708000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0QhkLWEUKRG2fpTiUantw-\" rel=\"noopener\"><span><span>https:\/\/www.mofa.go.jp\/a_o\/rp\/<wbr>pageite_000001_01297.html<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/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;\">9\/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_-7035162157952588202m_-3627838002053692312fc-id-166\" style=\"text-align:left;word-break:break-all;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:&quot;Meiryo UI&quot;,Meiryo,&quot;MS PGothic&quot;,Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:1.8;width:100%\">\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">On&nbsp;September&nbsp;24,&nbsp;Secretary&nbsp;<wbr>General&nbsp;of&nbsp;Japan\u2019s&nbsp;National&nbsp;<wbr>Security&nbsp;Secretariat&nbsp;Masataka&nbsp;<wbr>Okano&nbsp;held&nbsp;his&nbsp;first&nbsp;meeting&nbsp;with&nbsp;U.<wbr>S.&nbsp;Secretary&nbsp;of&nbsp;State&nbsp;Marco&nbsp;<wbr>Rubio&nbsp;in&nbsp;New&nbsp;York.&nbsp;The&nbsp;<wbr>Japanese&nbsp;government&nbsp;made&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>announcement.&nbsp;<br \/>With&nbsp;China\u2019s&nbsp;increasingly&nbsp;<wbr>assertive&nbsp;behavior&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>East&nbsp;and&nbsp;South&nbsp;China&nbsp;Seas&nbsp;in&nbsp;<wbr>mind,&nbsp;they&nbsp;reaffirmed&nbsp;the&nbsp;importance&nbsp;of&nbsp;<wbr>promoting&nbsp;a&nbsp;Free&nbsp;and&nbsp;Open&nbsp;<wbr>Indo-Pacific&nbsp;(FOIP).<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/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_-7035162157952588202m_-3627838002053692312fc-id-167\" style=\"text-align:left;word-break:break-all;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:&quot;Meiryo UI&quot;,Meiryo,&quot;MS PGothic&quot;,Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:1.8;width:100%\">\n<p style=\"margin:0px\"><b><span style=\"color:rgb(35,34,228)\">Sankei Shimbun News (Japanese)<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<\/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:100%\"><a style=\"color:rgb(51,122,183)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sankei.com\/article\/20250925-3SBK2RIKIFNSRJTQOJ2TAIDFZQ\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?hl=ja&amp;q=https:\/\/www.sankei.com\/article\/20250925-3SBK2RIKIFNSRJTQOJ2TAIDFZQ\/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1760275260708000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0BfuOeSwU-yxKdkQGpNc9u\" rel=\"noopener\"><span><span>https:\/\/www.sankei.com\/<wbr>article\/20250925-<wbr>3SBK2RIKIFNSRJTQOJ2TAIDFZQ\/<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/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;\">9\/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_-7035162157952588202m_-3627838002053692312fc-id-168\" style=\"text-align:left;word-break:break-all;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:&quot;Meiryo UI&quot;,Meiryo,&quot;MS PGothic&quot;,Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:1.8;width:100%\">\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">On&nbsp;September&nbsp;25,&nbsp;the&nbsp;Ministry&nbsp;<wbr>of&nbsp;Foreign&nbsp;Affairs&nbsp;of&nbsp;Japan&nbsp;<wbr>confirmed&nbsp;that&nbsp;it&nbsp;had&nbsp;lodged&nbsp;<wbr>a&nbsp;protest&nbsp;through&nbsp;diplomatic&nbsp;channels&nbsp;<wbr>in&nbsp;response&nbsp;to&nbsp;China\u2019s&nbsp;recent&nbsp;<wbr>deployment&nbsp;of&nbsp;a&nbsp;new&nbsp;mobile&nbsp;<wbr>drilling&nbsp;rig&nbsp;near&nbsp;the&nbsp;median&nbsp;line&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>East&nbsp;China&nbsp;Sea&nbsp;earlier&nbsp;this&nbsp;<wbr>month.&nbsp;China&nbsp;has&nbsp;installed&nbsp;18&nbsp;<wbr>fixed&nbsp;drilling&nbsp;rigs&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;surrounding&nbsp;<wbr>waters,&nbsp;and&nbsp;its&nbsp;unilateral&nbsp;<wbr>resource&nbsp;development&nbsp;is&nbsp;<wbr>continuing.&nbsp;Since&nbsp;the&nbsp;start&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;year,&nbsp;three&nbsp;more&nbsp;<wbr>rig&nbsp;installations&nbsp;have&nbsp;been&nbsp;<wbr>confirmed.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">The&nbsp;drilling&nbsp;vessel&nbsp;is&nbsp;<wbr>believed&nbsp;to&nbsp;be&nbsp;the&nbsp;\u201cKAN&nbsp;TAN&nbsp;<wbr>QI&nbsp;HAO,\u201d&nbsp;owned&nbsp;by&nbsp;a&nbsp;<wbr>subsidiary&nbsp;of&nbsp;China\u2019s&nbsp;state-owned&nbsp;energy&nbsp;giant&nbsp;<wbr>company,&nbsp;Sinopec&nbsp;Group.&nbsp;The&nbsp;<wbr>vessel,&nbsp;equipped&nbsp;with&nbsp;a&nbsp;<wbr>mobile&nbsp;offshore&nbsp;drilling&nbsp;unit&nbsp;known&nbsp;as&nbsp;a&nbsp;jack-<wbr>up&nbsp;rig,&nbsp;was&nbsp;previously&nbsp;<wbr>confirmed&nbsp;to&nbsp;have&nbsp;been&nbsp;<wbr>conducting&nbsp;drilling&nbsp;operations in&nbsp;the&nbsp;surrounding&nbsp;waters.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">The&nbsp;vessel&nbsp;stopped&nbsp;operations&nbsp;<wbr>in&nbsp;waters&nbsp;west&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;Japan-<wbr>China&nbsp;median&nbsp;line&nbsp;around&nbsp;<wbr>September&nbsp;18. After&nbsp;confirming&nbsp;that&nbsp;the&nbsp;rig&nbsp;<wbr>had&nbsp;been&nbsp;secured&nbsp;in&nbsp;place,&nbsp;<wbr>the&nbsp;JCG&nbsp;issued&nbsp;a&nbsp;navigation&nbsp;<wbr>warning&nbsp;on&nbsp;September&nbsp;22:&nbsp;\u201cA&nbsp;mobile&nbsp;<wbr>drilling&nbsp;rig&nbsp;is&nbsp;present&nbsp;in&nbsp;<wbr>the&nbsp;East&nbsp;China&nbsp;Sea.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">The&nbsp;drilling&nbsp;apparatus&nbsp;was&nbsp;<wbr>located&nbsp;near&nbsp;the&nbsp;center&nbsp;of&nbsp;<wbr>three&nbsp;rigs&nbsp;confirmed&nbsp;to&nbsp;have&nbsp;<wbr>been&nbsp;installed&nbsp;this&nbsp;year.&nbsp;It&nbsp;appears&nbsp;to&nbsp;be&nbsp;<wbr>securing&nbsp;the&nbsp;vessel&nbsp;to&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>seabed&nbsp;for&nbsp;exploratory&nbsp;<wbr>drilling.&nbsp;If&nbsp;resources&nbsp;such&nbsp;as&nbsp;natural&nbsp;gas&nbsp;are&nbsp;<wbr>discovered,&nbsp;a&nbsp;new&nbsp;fixed&nbsp;rig&nbsp;<wbr>might&nbsp;be&nbsp;built.&nbsp;Satellite&nbsp;<wbr>imagery&nbsp;captured&nbsp;by&nbsp;the&nbsp;European&nbsp;Space&nbsp;Agency&nbsp;(<wbr>ESA)&nbsp;on&nbsp;September&nbsp;23&nbsp;shows&nbsp;<wbr>discoloration&nbsp;on&nbsp;the&nbsp;sea&nbsp;<wbr>surface&nbsp;extending&nbsp;northeast&nbsp;from&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>drilling&nbsp;rig,&nbsp;suggesting&nbsp;that&nbsp;<wbr>the&nbsp;drilling&nbsp;activity&nbsp;may&nbsp;<wbr>have&nbsp;caused&nbsp;it.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">A&nbsp;Foreign&nbsp;Ministry&nbsp;official&nbsp;<wbr>told&nbsp;that,&nbsp;while&nbsp;specific&nbsp;<wbr>vessel&nbsp;names&nbsp;could&nbsp;not&nbsp;be&nbsp;<wbr>disclosed,&nbsp;\u201ca&nbsp;strong&nbsp;protest&nbsp;was&nbsp;lodged&nbsp;with&nbsp;China&nbsp;<wbr>through&nbsp;diplomatic&nbsp;channels.\u201d&nbsp;<wbr>An&nbsp;Energy&nbsp;Agency&nbsp;official&nbsp;<wbr>said,&nbsp;\u201cIt&nbsp;is&nbsp;impossible&nbsp;to&nbsp;know&nbsp;from&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>outside&nbsp;what&nbsp;is&nbsp;happening&nbsp;<wbr>underground,&nbsp;but&nbsp;it&nbsp;is&nbsp;likely&nbsp;<wbr>that&nbsp;exploration&nbsp;work&nbsp;is&nbsp;underway.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">China\u2019s&nbsp;use&nbsp;of&nbsp;mobile&nbsp;vessels&nbsp;<wbr>for&nbsp;exploratory&nbsp;drilling&nbsp;is&nbsp;<wbr>seen&nbsp;as&nbsp;part&nbsp;of&nbsp;its&nbsp;\u201csalami&nbsp;<wbr>tactics\u201d&nbsp;to&nbsp;gradually&nbsp;gain&nbsp;an&nbsp;advantage.&nbsp;<wbr>While&nbsp;the&nbsp;installation&nbsp;of&nbsp;<wbr>fixed&nbsp;rigs&nbsp;is&nbsp;usually&nbsp;made&nbsp;<wbr>public,&nbsp;Japan\u2019s&nbsp;Ministry&nbsp;of&nbsp;Foreign&nbsp;Affairs&nbsp;<wbr>has&nbsp;not&nbsp;disclosed&nbsp;any&nbsp;<wbr>discoveries&nbsp;made&nbsp;by&nbsp;these&nbsp;<wbr>mobile&nbsp;platforms.&nbsp;This&nbsp;allows&nbsp;China&nbsp;to&nbsp;quietly&nbsp;<wbr>create&nbsp;facts&nbsp;on&nbsp;the&nbsp;ground.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/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_-7035162157952588202m_-3627838002053692312fc-id-169\" style=\"text-align:left;word-break:break-all;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:&quot;Meiryo UI&quot;,Meiryo,&quot;MS PGothic&quot;,Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:1.8;width:100%\">\n<p style=\"margin:0px\"><b><span style=\"color:rgb(35,34,228)\">Sankei Shimbun News (Japanese)<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<\/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:100%\"><a style=\"color:rgb(51,122,183)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sankei.com\/article\/20250925-OBGRLR6PQNAULJLCWSO4GENWUM\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?hl=ja&amp;q=https:\/\/www.sankei.com\/article\/20250925-OBGRLR6PQNAULJLCWSO4GENWUM\/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1760275260708000&amp;usg=AOvVaw02jn_RtHht6J1MODqqOgiV\" rel=\"noopener\"><span><span>https:\/\/www.sankei.com\/<wbr>article\/20250925-<wbr>OBGRLR6PQNAULJLCWSO4GENWUM\/<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/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;\">9\/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_-7035162157952588202m_-3627838002053692312fc-id-170\" style=\"text-align:left;word-break:break-all;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:&quot;Meiryo UI&quot;,Meiryo,&quot;MS PGothic&quot;,Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:1.8;width:100%\">\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">Japan&nbsp;lodged&nbsp;a&nbsp;protest&nbsp;with&nbsp;<wbr>China&nbsp;to&nbsp;stop&nbsp;ocean&nbsp;research&nbsp;<wbr>activities&nbsp;in&nbsp;Japan&#8217;s&nbsp;EEZ&nbsp;<wbr>after&nbsp;spotting&nbsp;a&nbsp;Chinese&nbsp;vessel&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>country&#8217;s&nbsp;southwest,&nbsp;chief&nbsp;<wbr>cabinet&nbsp;secretary&nbsp;Yoshimasa&nbsp;<wbr>Hayashi&nbsp;said&nbsp;on&nbsp;September&nbsp;29.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp;<br \/>The JCG&nbsp;found&nbsp;the&nbsp;Chinese&nbsp;ship&nbsp;&#8220;<wbr>Xiang&nbsp;Yang&nbsp;Hong&nbsp;22&#8243;&nbsp;extending&nbsp;<wbr>a&nbsp;wire-like&nbsp;object into&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;ocean in&nbsp;the&nbsp;Japanese&nbsp;EEZ&nbsp;about&nbsp;379&nbsp;<wbr>kilometers&nbsp;(235&nbsp;miles)&nbsp;west&nbsp;<wbr>of&nbsp;the&nbsp;island&nbsp;of Amami&nbsp;Oshima&nbsp;early&nbsp;on&nbsp;the&nbsp;morning&nbsp;of&nbsp;<wbr>September&nbsp;28,&nbsp;Hayashi&nbsp;said.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&#8220;We&nbsp;protested&nbsp;to&nbsp;the&nbsp;Chinese&nbsp;<wbr>government&nbsp;that&nbsp;conducting&nbsp;<wbr>marine&nbsp;scientific&nbsp;research&nbsp;in&nbsp;<wbr>the&nbsp;zone&nbsp;without&nbsp;Japan&#8217;s&nbsp;consent&nbsp;was&nbsp;<wbr>unacceptable,&#8221;&nbsp;said&nbsp;Hayashi,&nbsp;<wbr>the&nbsp;top&nbsp;Japanese&nbsp;government&nbsp;spokesperson.&nbsp;He&nbsp;added&nbsp;that&nbsp;<wbr>the&nbsp;Chinese&nbsp;ship&nbsp;left&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>waters&nbsp;and&nbsp;moved&nbsp;westward&nbsp;<wbr>about&nbsp;three&nbsp;hours&nbsp;later.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp;<br \/>According&nbsp;to&nbsp;the&nbsp;JCG,&nbsp;this&nbsp;<wbr>marks&nbsp;the&nbsp;first&nbsp;time&nbsp;since&nbsp;<wbr>October&nbsp;31,&nbsp;2023,&nbsp;that&nbsp;<wbr>activities&nbsp;by&nbsp;a&nbsp;Chinese&nbsp;oceanographic&nbsp;<wbr>research&nbsp;vessel&nbsp;have&nbsp;been&nbsp;<wbr>confirmed&nbsp;within&nbsp;the&nbsp;EEZ&nbsp;off&nbsp;<wbr>Amami&nbsp;Oshima&nbsp;Island.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/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_-7035162157952588202m_-3627838002053692312fc-id-171\" style=\"text-align:left;word-break:break-all;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:&quot;Meiryo UI&quot;,Meiryo,&quot;MS PGothic&quot;,Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:1.8;width:100%\">\n<p style=\"margin:0px\"><b><span style=\"color:rgb(35,34,228)\">Reuters&nbsp;<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<\/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:100%\"><a style=\"color:rgb(51,122,183)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/world\/china\/japan-protests-chinas-ocean-research-exclusive-economic-zone-2025-09-29\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?hl=ja&amp;q=https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/world\/china\/japan-protests-chinas-ocean-research-exclusive-economic-zone-2025-09-29\/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1760275260708000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3d7cUjMy3DZFwiwiB8_S7o\" rel=\"noopener\"><span><span>https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/world\/<wbr>china\/japan-protests-chinas-<wbr>ocean-research-exclusive-<wbr>economic-zone-2025-09-29\/<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/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_-7035162157952588202m_-3627838002053692312fc-id-172\" style=\"text-align:left;word-break:break-all;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:&quot;Meiryo UI&quot;,Meiryo,&quot;MS PGothic&quot;,Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:1.8;width:100%\">\n<p style=\"margin:0px\"><b><span style=\"color:rgb(35,34,228)\">NHK News (Japanese)&nbsp;<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<\/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:100%\"><a style=\"color:rgb(51,122,183)\" href=\"https:\/\/www3.nhk.or.jp\/lnews\/kagoshima\/20250929\/5050032837.html\" target=\"_blank\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?hl=ja&amp;q=https:\/\/www3.nhk.or.jp\/lnews\/kagoshima\/20250929\/5050032837.html&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1760275260708000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2YC_r5y_rhkV01-f36MWtF\" rel=\"noopener\"><span><span>https:\/\/www3.nhk.or.jp\/lnews\/<wbr>kagoshima\/20250929\/5050032837.<wbr>html<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/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;\">9\/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_-7035162157952588202m_-3627838002053692312fc-id-173\" style=\"text-align:left;word-break:break-all;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:&quot;Meiryo UI&quot;,Meiryo,&quot;MS PGothic&quot;,Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:1.8;width:100%\">\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">On&nbsp;September&nbsp;28,&nbsp;the&nbsp;JMSDF&nbsp;<wbr>confirmed&nbsp;one&nbsp;Chinese&nbsp;<wbr>Dongdiao&nbsp;class&nbsp;Intelligence&nbsp;<wbr>ship&nbsp;(hull&nbsp;number&nbsp;796)&nbsp;sailing&nbsp;northeast&nbsp;<wbr>in&nbsp;the&nbsp;waters&nbsp;130km&nbsp;southwest&nbsp;<wbr>of&nbsp;Tsushima&nbsp;Island&nbsp;(Nagasaki&nbsp;Prefecture).<br \/>On&nbsp;September&nbsp;29,&nbsp;this&nbsp;vessel&nbsp;<wbr>sailed&nbsp;northeast&nbsp;through&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>Tsushima&nbsp;Strait&nbsp;and&nbsp;navigated&nbsp;<wbr>to&nbsp;the&nbsp;Sea&nbsp;of&nbsp;Japan.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/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=\"299\" style=\"display:block;margin:0 auto;vertical-align:top;max-width:100%;height:auto;width:auto\" src=\"https:\/\/ci3.googleusercontent.com\/meips\/ADKq_NbGC0Lq_usTux9IH7SRG7f8Hp_0aYYz8xYE7uu9uBCEzRnZRxSsHraeWAoVs9435IJdIRmOhJVITFGVnnlZ_wAcd4ShCBXMdv9kj2NAfCRNW2x2POytrVmDpa0047cumc9efNA=s0-d-e1-ft#https:\/\/gy53-cdn.asp.cuenote.jp\/0000013c\/202510\/00024f7b\/0005-3cf088359a10.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_-7035162157952588202m_-3627838002053692312fc-id-174\" style=\"text-align:left;word-break:break-all;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:&quot;Meiryo UI&quot;,Meiryo,&quot;MS PGothic&quot;,Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:1.8;width:100%\">\n<p style=\"margin:0px\"><b><span style=\"color:rgb(35,34,228)\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\"><b><span style=\"color:rgb(35,34,228)\">Japan Joint Staff<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<\/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:100%\"><a style=\"color:rgb(51,122,183)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mod.go.jp\/js\/pdf\/2025\/p20250929_01.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?hl=ja&amp;q=https:\/\/www.mod.go.jp\/js\/pdf\/2025\/p20250929_01.pdf&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1760275260708000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3d3a57vEQpYEEl48cKFsb9\" rel=\"noopener\"><span><span>https:\/\/www.mod.go.jp\/js\/pdf\/<wbr>2025\/p20250929_01.pdf<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/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.30. September 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 \u00a0 Escalating Naval Tensions between the Philippines and China Val\u00e9rie Niquet Director Japan Program, Foundation for Strategic Research \u00a0 \u00a0 Grey-Zone Pressure and Naval Asymmetry The Philippines faces sustained pressure in the South China Sea, where confrontations with the People\u2019s Republic &hellip; <span>More<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":2309,"menu_order":14,"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. 30, September 30, 2025 - RIPS - Research Institute for Peace and Security -<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"\u300cVol. 30, September 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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It was established in October 1978 and has a research history of more than 45 years.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.rips.or.jp\/en\/newsletter\/vol-30-september-30-2025\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Vol. 30, September 30, 2025 - RIPS - Research Institute for Peace and Security -","og_description":"\u300cVol. 30, September 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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