Eight Chinese and Russian Warships Traverse Soya Strait, Raising Tensions inthe Region
TOKYO – A flotilla of eight Chinese and Russian warships, including a Chinese electronic reconnaissance vessel, transited the Soya Strait (also known as La Pérouse Strait) on September 23, 2024, according to the Japanese Ministry of Defense. The passage marks the fourth instance of joint Chinese and Russian naval activity through the strategic waterway since 2013.
The Japanese Defense Ministry’s Joint Staff announced that the Chinese contingent consisted of the Type 055 guided-missile destroyer Wuxi (hull number 104), the Type 052D guided-missile destroyerXining (hull number 117), the Type 054A frigate LinYi (hull number 547), and the Type 903A replenishment ship Taihu (hull number 889). Notably, these four vessels participated in the recent Northern Joint-2024 exercises, which concluded earlier this month.
The Russian contingent included the large anti-submarine ship Admiral Panteleyev (hull number 548), the large anti-submarine ship Admiral Tributs (hull number 564), and two Grisha V class frigates (hull numbers 332 and 375).
Prior to the joint passage, the Chinese Navy’s electronic reconnaissance vessel 794 was spotted 60 kilometers northwest ofRebun Island, Hokkaido, on September 22, before transiting the Soya Strait on September 22-23.
The Soya Strait, a narrow waterway separating Hokkaido Island from Russia’s Sakhalin Island, is a vital passage connecting the Sea of Japan to the Pacific Ocean. It isconsidered a strategic chokepoint, particularly for Russia’s Pacific Fleet, and its importance is underscored by the fact that it is the northern gate to the Sea of Japan.
The Japanese government, recognizing the strategic significance of the strait, maintains a three-nautical-mile territorial sea limit in the Soya Strait,unlike the standard 12-nautical-mile limit elsewhere. This concession, originally intended to facilitate the movement of US naval vessels into the Sea of Japan during the post-World War II era, has created a de facto international waterway in the heart of the strait.
The passage of the joint Chinese and Russiannaval force has raised concerns in Tokyo, given the increasing military cooperation between Moscow and Beijing. The two nations have been conducting joint naval exercises in the region, including the Northern Joint-2024 exercises, which aimed to enhance their strategic cooperation and joint response to security threats.
The Chinese Ministry ofNational Defense announced on September 9 that the joint naval patrols in the Pacific were part of a planned activity and were conducted in accordance with a mutual understanding between China and Russia. This latest passage through the Soya Strait further underscores the growing military partnership between the two nations, a development that has heightened tensions in the region.
Thejoint passage comes at a time of heightened geopolitical tensions in the Asia-Pacific region, with Japan, the United States, and their allies increasingly concerned about China’s growing military assertiveness. The passage of the Chinese and Russian warships through the Soya Strait is likely to further fuel these anxieties and contribute to a more complex andpotentially volatile security environment in the region.
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