Japan reacts after Chinese helicopter approaches fishery research vessel

Tokyo [Japan], February 18: Japan's Fisheries Agency said on February 17 that a Chinese naval helicopter approached a Japanese research vessel within its exclusive economic zone in the East China Sea.
The Japan Fisheries Agency said the incident involved the Yoko Maru ship belonging to the fisheries research and training agency. The Chinese helicopter arrived about 150-200 meters from the Yoko Maru ship and more than 30 meters above the sea surface in the waters northwest of Okinawa at about 10:47 a.m. on February 17 before taking off, Kyodo News reported today. .
At the time of the incident, the Yoko Maru was conducting research on fishery resources in Japan's exclusive economic zone.
Japan's Fisheries Agency said the government had told the Chinese government through a diplomatic channel that it was a very regrettable incident and that Beijing should prevent any similar incidents in the future. according to Kyodo News. There is no word yet on China's response.
The information comes after the Japanese Ministry of Defense said on February 12 that a Chinese navy survey ship entered Japanese waters from the southwest of Yakushima island in Kagoshima Prefecture at around 2:30 a.m. on February 12.
Tokyo has expressed concern about the Chinese survey ship 's actions to Beijing through diplomatic channels, according to the Japanese Defense Ministry. The ship sailed out of Japanese territorial waters near Kuchinoshima Island, about 50 kilometers southwest of Yakushima, at around 4:10 a.m. on February 12, Kyodo News reported.
Source: ThanhNien Newspaper