Story perspectives

China, Russia Live-Fire Drill Near Okinotori, Japan Protests

7/22/2026

Center

Chinese Destroyer Drills

A Chinese navy destroyer and a Russian frigate carried out a live-fire drill in Japan’s economic zone near Okinotori Island on July 19, 2026.
Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi disclosed the joint drill during a speech at the Farnborough International Airshow in Britain on Monday.
Japan’s staff listed vessels as a Renhai-class destroyer, Luyang III-class destroyer and a Russian Steregushchiy-class frigate.
The Chinese destroyer fired a machine-gun 180 km southwest of Okinotori Island.

Right

China-Russia Drill

A Chinese destroyer and a Russian frigate conducted a live-fire drill in Japan’s EEZ near Okinotori Island on July 19, 2026.
Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi said the drill shows deepening China-Russia cooperation and announced plans to expand Japan’s defence production.
Spokesperson Minoru Kihara warned the drills could endanger navigation and filed a formal protest.
Ministry spokesman Lin Jian called Japan’s concerns unreasonable and said China’s actions comply with law.

Blindspot

Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian said Japan’s concerns were completely unreasonable and that China’s actions complied with international law.
Within this story's sources, this angle appears mainly in Right-leaning coverage and receives less attention in Center-leaning coverage.

History

Historical Context

China and Russia’s 2005 Joint Sea drill near the Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands echoed a pattern of multinational naval gatherings, such as the International Fleet Review off Spithead in June 2005 that brought together ships from several navies. The 2026 live-fire exercise near Okinotori Island, announced by Japan’s Shinjiro Koizumi and China’s Lin Jian, underscores continued regional power projection.

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Chinese Destroyer Drills

A Chinese navy destroyer and a Russian frigate carried out a live-fire drill in Japan’s economic zone near Okinotori Island on July 19, 2026.
Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi disclosed the joint drill during a speech at the Farnborough International Airshow in Britain on Monday.
Japan’s staff listed vessels as a Renhai-class destroyer, Luyang III-class destroyer and a Russian Steregushchiy-class frigate.
The Chinese destroyer fired a machine-gun 180 km southwest of Okinotori Island.

1 / 4