A Russian submarine was spotted off the coast of a Japanese island near Taiwan, Tuesday, according to Japan’s Ministry of Defense.
Japanese Joint Staff said a Russian Kilo-class submarine was sighted 50 kilometers south of Yonaguni Island at around 8:00 am, December 3. The submarine was accompanied by a Russian naval ship and moving northeast between Yonaguni and Iriomote Island. It was the first time a Russian submarine has been spotted in those waters, the military said.
Japan’s military dispatched a P-3C surveillance aircraft and a combat support ship to monitor the vessels. There was no breach of Japan’s territorial waters, according the press release.
Yonaguni Island, part of Okinawa Prefecture, is just 110 kilometers (70 miles) from the coast of northeastern Taiwan.
Just one day earlier (Monday), Philippines military reported a Russian Kilo-class submarine sighted in the South China Sea.
The route of the submarine Tuesday suggests the vessel was transiting from the Pacific Ocean to the East China Sea. There has been significant naval activity in the area recently, with the Chinese aircraft “Liaoning” and three Russian frigates currently operating in the East China Sea. There has been speculation that China may be about to launch joint combat drills in coming days in response to Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-teh’s visit to Pacific allies.
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