NAHA (Kyodo) — A Chinese marine survey ship was spotted dangling what appeared to be wire into waters off the island of Kumejima in southwestern Japan’s Okinawa Prefecture on Wednesday, the coast guard said.
With the vessel located within Japan’s exclusive economic zone about 257 kilometers northwest of the island, a Japan Coast Guard aircraft radioed the ship to halt its activity.
The local coast guard headquartered in Naha, Okinawa, said the Chinese vessel was spotted at around 3:45 p.m.
Similar movements by Chinese vessels were last seen within Japan’s exclusive economic zone on May 26, with the latest case marking the third this year.
Chinese survey ship spotted operating off Okinawa