China reportedly fired at least two warning shots at the Japanese destroyer JS Suzutsuki last July after the vessel accidentally entered Chinese territorial waters. Multiple sources close to Sino-Japanese relations confirmed the incident, stating that the shells did not hit the vessel and no damage was sustained.
The event unfolded in the early hours of July 4th when the Suzutsuki was conducting surveillance of Chinese military exercises in international waters off the coast of Zhejiang province. Due to a navigational chart error, the destroyer unknowingly entered Chinese territory. Upon discovering the intrusion, the Chinese side repeatedly demanded the Suzutsuki change its course. According to reports, China then fired two shells—one just before the intrusion and another after it had crossed into their waters—in an attempt to force the vessel to leave.
During a press briefing on Monday, Chinese Foreign Ministry Deputy Spokesperson Lin Jian avoided directly confirming the warning shots. However, he emphasized China’s position, stating, “Any foreign warship entering Chinese territorial waters requires permission from the Chinese government. If they enter without permission, we will handle it in accordance with the law.” The use of warning shots by China against a foreign vessel is an extremely rare occurrence and highlights the potential for accidental military conflict between the two nations.
The Japanese government had previously informed China last July that the vessel’s captain had made a “serious mistake” by failing to accurately determine its position. The captain was subsequently relieved of his command. Despite this, the government has not publicly provided a detailed explanation of the incident, leading to calls for greater transparency.