Chinese Military Announces Drills in East China Sea After Japanese SDF Vessel Transits Taiwan Strait
Following the transit of the Japanese MSDF destroyer 'Ikazuchi' through the Taiwan Strait, the PLA Eastern Theater Command announced joint naval and air patrols in the East China Sea, accompanied by widespread airspace warnings.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 18, 2026 at 18:20
- 🔍 Collected: April 18, 2026 at 18:31 (11 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 18, 2026 at 18:53 (22 min after Collected)
(Central News Agency, Taipei, 18th) Following China's strong dissatisfaction and protests over the Japanese Self-Defense Forces' destroyer "Ikazuchi" passing through the Taiwan Strait yesterday, the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Eastern Theater Command announced today that it organized naval and air forces to conduct joint combat readiness patrols in relevant sea and airspaces of the East China Sea, claiming this is a normal arrangement within the annual plan.
The PLA Eastern Theater Command issued a press release in Chinese and English at 4:00 PM. Eastern Theater Command spokesperson Xu Chenghua stated that on April 18, the Eastern Theater Command organized naval and air forces to conduct joint combat readiness patrols in relevant sea and airspaces of the East China Sea. This is a normal arrangement within the annual plan, aimed at testing the troops' joint combat capabilities.
As of press time, the PLA Eastern Theater Command had not announced the exact scope of the military exercises in the "relevant sea and airspaces of the East China Sea."
Xu Chenghua also stated that the Eastern Theater Command troops will "based on the needs of the security situation" normalize relevant military actions to safeguard national sovereign security and regional peace and stability.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun stated at a regular press conference yesterday afternoon that a strong protest had been lodged with the Japanese side regarding the Japanese SDF vessel entering the Taiwan Strait. He claimed that Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's erroneous remarks related to Taiwan had already brought a severe impact on Sino-Japanese relations. Sending SDF vessels into the Taiwan Strait is adding a mistake to a mistake, once again exposing the dangerous scheme of some people in Japan attempting to intervene in the Taiwan Strait with force and undermine peace and stability.
The PLA Eastern Theater Command reported last night that the Japanese destroyer "Ikazuchi" passed through the Taiwan Strait from 4:02 AM to 5:50 PM on the 17th, and the Eastern Theater Command organized naval and air forces to track and monitor the entire process.
Kyodo News reported last night, citing multiple sources familiar with Sino-Japanese relations, that the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force destroyer "Ikazuchi" sailed through the Taiwan Strait on the 17th. Since the Sanae Takaichi administration took office in October last year, this is the first time an MSDF vessel has transited the Taiwan Strait.
Kyodo News reported yesterday that the Chinese government recently issued Notices to Airmen (NOTAM) warning civil aviation aircraft of potential dangers in five airspace zones over the East China Sea and Yellow Sea off the coast of Shanghai, lasting for 40 days until May 6. The Chinese side did not announce specific reasons; some views suggest this implies military exercises will be held, while other analyses say it is meant to deter Japan.
Information on the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) website shows that the warning airspaces designated by China are two areas over the Yellow Sea northeast of Shanghai, and three areas over the East China Sea southeast of Shanghai. The combined area of the five zones is about twice the size of Taiwan island, pointing to a rarity in such a vast scope. (Editors: Yang Sheng-ju / Chu Chien-ling) 1150418
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The PLA Eastern Theater Command issued a press release in Chinese and English at 4:00 PM. Eastern Theater Command spokesperson Xu Chenghua stated that on April 18, the Eastern Theater Command organized naval and air forces to conduct joint combat readiness patrols in relevant sea and airspaces of the East China Sea. This is a normal arrangement within the annual plan, aimed at testing the troops' joint combat capabilities.
As of press time, the PLA Eastern Theater Command had not announced the exact scope of the military exercises in the "relevant sea and airspaces of the East China Sea."
Xu Chenghua also stated that the Eastern Theater Command troops will "based on the needs of the security situation" normalize relevant military actions to safeguard national sovereign security and regional peace and stability.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun stated at a regular press conference yesterday afternoon that a strong protest had been lodged with the Japanese side regarding the Japanese SDF vessel entering the Taiwan Strait. He claimed that Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's erroneous remarks related to Taiwan had already brought a severe impact on Sino-Japanese relations. Sending SDF vessels into the Taiwan Strait is adding a mistake to a mistake, once again exposing the dangerous scheme of some people in Japan attempting to intervene in the Taiwan Strait with force and undermine peace and stability.
The PLA Eastern Theater Command reported last night that the Japanese destroyer "Ikazuchi" passed through the Taiwan Strait from 4:02 AM to 5:50 PM on the 17th, and the Eastern Theater Command organized naval and air forces to track and monitor the entire process.
Kyodo News reported last night, citing multiple sources familiar with Sino-Japanese relations, that the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force destroyer "Ikazuchi" sailed through the Taiwan Strait on the 17th. Since the Sanae Takaichi administration took office in October last year, this is the first time an MSDF vessel has transited the Taiwan Strait.
Kyodo News reported yesterday that the Chinese government recently issued Notices to Airmen (NOTAM) warning civil aviation aircraft of potential dangers in five airspace zones over the East China Sea and Yellow Sea off the coast of Shanghai, lasting for 40 days until May 6. The Chinese side did not announce specific reasons; some views suggest this implies military exercises will be held, while other analyses say it is meant to deter Japan.
Information on the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) website shows that the warning airspaces designated by China are two areas over the Yellow Sea northeast of Shanghai, and three areas over the East China Sea southeast of Shanghai. The combined area of the five zones is about twice the size of Taiwan island, pointing to a rarity in such a vast scope. (Editors: Yang Sheng-ju / Chu Chien-ling) 1150418
Choose to stand with facts, every sponsorship from you is the power to protect press freedom.
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The text, images, and audio/video on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, or publicly transmitted and utilized without authorization.