Japanese Warship Transits Taiwan Strait; U.S. Expert Suggests It's a Response to China's East China Sea Airspace Restrictions
The Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force destroyer "Ikazuchi" recently transited the Taiwan Strait. A U.S. expert from the American Enterprise Institute suggested this action could be a response to China's 40-day airspace reservation in the East China Sea, asserting that such passages fully comply with international law. China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs protested Japan's action, while Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense confirmed monitoring the situation. This marks the fourth time a Japanese vessel has passed through the strait.
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- 📰 Published: April 18, 2026 at 13:04
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Central News Agency
(Central News Agency reporter Hou Tzu-ying, Washington, 17th) The Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force destroyer "Ikazuchi" transited the Taiwan Strait. U.S. experts analyzed that such transits are fully in line with the rights granted to all nations by international law, suggesting that Tokyo might deem it necessary to respond to China's 40-day airspace reservation in the East China Sea and other areas.
China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that a Japanese Self-Defense Force vessel passed through the Taiwan Strait on the 17th, Taipei time, and lodged a strong protest with Japan; the Eastern Theater Command of the People's Liberation Army organized sea and air forces for full-course monitoring and alert. Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense said that its military utilizes joint intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance means to effectively monitor sea and air dynamics around Taiwan and has no comment on specific case details.
Regarding the Japanese warship's renewed transit through the Taiwan Strait, Zack Cooper, a senior fellow and Asia security expert at the Washington think tank American Enterprise Institute (AEI), responded to a Central News Agency reporter's inquiry via email today, stating, "I would not be surprised if this is just normal activity," adding that such passages fully comply with the rights granted to all nations by international law.
He pointed out that there is also a possibility that Tokyo considers it necessary to respond to China's airspace reservation in the East China Sea. He does not believe that Japan's move will have a significant impact on Sino-Japanese relations, as relations have been quite tense since China launched pressure campaigns against Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.
The Wall Street Journal previously reported that China would reserve "air mission notification" zones in the Yellow Sea and East China Sea from March 27 to May 6, during which aircraft entering the designated airspace might face risks and restrictions.
Japanese media reported that sources related to the Japanese government revealed this is the fourth time a Maritime Self-Defense Force vessel has passed through the Taiwan Strait, with the last one approximately 10 months ago. The previous three were in September 2024, February 2025, and June 2025.
Last November, Sanae Takaichi's remarks in the Japanese Parliament regarding "Taiwan contingencies" sparked discontent from Beijing, which then implemented countermeasures. The report noted that the Japanese government considered Takaichi's earlier statement in parliament that "a Taiwan contingency could constitute a situation threatening Japan's existence," which was criticized by China as implying potential intervention in a Taiwan Strait conflict and used in public opinion warfare against Japan. Therefore, the timing of actions became more cautious.
During this period, Takaichi explained Japan's position and the current state of Sino-Japanese relations to leaders of major countries, judging that the external environment was gradually maturing, and decided to resume transits through the Taiwan Strait. The United States and Japan share the position that the Taiwan Strait is international waters, and all countries enjoy freedom of navigation, with U.S. forces also continuously dispatching vessels through it.
After transiting the Taiwan Strait, the destroyer "Ikazuchi" headed south to the South China Sea to participate in joint military exercises with the United States and the Philippines. (Editor: Chen Hui-ping) 1150418
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(Central News Agency reporter Hou Tzu-ying, Washington, 17th) The Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force destroyer "Ikazuchi" transited the Taiwan Strait. U.S. experts analyzed that such transits are fully in line with the rights granted to all nations by international law, suggesting that Tokyo might deem it necessary to respond to China's 40-day airspace reservation in the East China Sea and other areas.
China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that a Japanese Self-Defense Force vessel passed through the Taiwan Strait on the 17th, Taipei time, and lodged a strong protest with Japan; the Eastern Theater Command of the People's Liberation Army organized sea and air forces for full-course monitoring and alert. Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense said that its military utilizes joint intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance means to effectively monitor sea and air dynamics around Taiwan and has no comment on specific case details.
Regarding the Japanese warship's renewed transit through the Taiwan Strait, Zack Cooper, a senior fellow and Asia security expert at the Washington think tank American Enterprise Institute (AEI), responded to a Central News Agency reporter's inquiry via email today, stating, "I would not be surprised if this is just normal activity," adding that such passages fully comply with the rights granted to all nations by international law.
He pointed out that there is also a possibility that Tokyo considers it necessary to respond to China's airspace reservation in the East China Sea. He does not believe that Japan's move will have a significant impact on Sino-Japanese relations, as relations have been quite tense since China launched pressure campaigns against Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.
The Wall Street Journal previously reported that China would reserve "air mission notification" zones in the Yellow Sea and East China Sea from March 27 to May 6, during which aircraft entering the designated airspace might face risks and restrictions.
Japanese media reported that sources related to the Japanese government revealed this is the fourth time a Maritime Self-Defense Force vessel has passed through the Taiwan Strait, with the last one approximately 10 months ago. The previous three were in September 2024, February 2025, and June 2025.
Last November, Sanae Takaichi's remarks in the Japanese Parliament regarding "Taiwan contingencies" sparked discontent from Beijing, which then implemented countermeasures. The report noted that the Japanese government considered Takaichi's earlier statement in parliament that "a Taiwan contingency could constitute a situation threatening Japan's existence," which was criticized by China as implying potential intervention in a Taiwan Strait conflict and used in public opinion warfare against Japan. Therefore, the timing of actions became more cautious.
During this period, Takaichi explained Japan's position and the current state of Sino-Japanese relations to leaders of major countries, judging that the external environment was gradually maturing, and decided to resume transits through the Taiwan Strait. The United States and Japan share the position that the Taiwan Strait is international waters, and all countries enjoy freedom of navigation, with U.S. forces also continuously dispatching vessels through it.
After transiting the Taiwan Strait, the destroyer "Ikazuchi" headed south to the South China Sea to participate in joint military exercises with the United States and the Philippines. (Editor: Chen Hui-ping) 1150418
Choose to stand with facts; every sponsorship you provide is a force for protecting press freedom.
Download the Central News Agency "First-Hand News" APP to stay updated with the latest news.
The text, images, and audio/video on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, or publicly transmitted and utilized without authorization.