Japan Calls China’s Naval Helicopter Flying Close To Its Ship “Regrettable”

Japan mentioned that China’s naval helicopter approach to its research vessel in the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the East China Sea was “regrettable” and reportedly warned Beijing to refrain from repeating anything similar, per the Kyodo News Agency.

On Friday, Japan’s Fisheries Agencies mentioned that a naval helicopter from China had approached a Japan-based research vessel in the nation’s EEZ in the East China Sea.

Chinese Naval Helicopter Flying Close To Japanese Ship — Image for representation purposes only

Approaching from behind the Yoko Maru of the education agency and fisheries research, the helicopter had hit a point about 150-200 meters from the vessel and over 30 meters above the sea in the waters northwest of Okinawa at around 10:47 am on Friday before it flew away, the Fisheries Agency reported.

The Japan-based vessel was carrying out fisheries resource research within the EEZ that extends about 370 kilometres from Japan’s coastline, at the time of the incident, per the Kyodo News Agency.

Each nation can reportedly develop natural resources, build islands, and apply domestic law on issues like fisheries in its EEZ, defined per the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

References: The Print, The Republic World