PLA: Western Pacific Exercise Concludes, Returns via Yonaguni Strait

(Central News Agency reporter Li Ya-wen, Shanghai, 22nd) The Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) stated this afternoon that Fleet 133 completed its training activities in the Western Pacific and returned via the Yonaguni Strait. The Yonaguni Strait is located between Japan's Yonaguni Island and Iriomote Island, serving as a critical passage connecting the Pacific Ocean and the East China Sea.

According to an announcement on the official WeChat account of the PLA Eastern Theater Command, spokesperson Senior Colonel Xu Chenghua stated that the PLA Eastern Theater Command organized Fleet 133 to complete its Western Pacific training activities on the 22nd, returning via the Yonaguni Strait, effectively testing the troops' long-range combat capabilities.

The Yonaguni Strait is situated between Japan's Yonaguni Island and Iriomote Island, a vital corridor connecting the Pacific and the East China Sea. The waters north of the Yonaguni Strait are home to the Diaoyutai Islands (known as the Senkaku Islands in Japan).

On the 19th, Senior Colonel Xu Chenghua announced that the Eastern Theater Command organized the 133rd naval fleet to sail through the Osumi Strait into the Western Pacific for training exercises to test their deep-sea operational readiness. He emphasized that this is a routinely organized training under the annual plan, "consistent with relevant international laws and practices, and not directed at any specific country or target."

At the time the PLA Eastern Theater Command announced Fleet 133's deployment to the Western Pacific, Japanese Self-Defense Force vessels had just passed through the Taiwan Strait on the 17th, provoking Beijing's dissatisfaction.

During a routine press conference on the 17th, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun stated, "Erroneous remarks regarding Taiwan by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi have already severely impacted Sino-Japanese relations. Japan sending SDF vessels into the Taiwan Strait to flaunt military prowess and intentionally provoke is compounding mistakes." He added, "China firmly opposes this and has lodged strong protests with the Japanese side." (Editor: Chou Hui-ying) 1150422