Seven Russian warships were spotted heading south off Japan’s northern island of Hokkaido on Thursday and Friday, passing through the uninhabited Izu Islands, according to the Japan Times. The Japan Joint Chiefs of Staff confirmed that the foreign vessels were being monitored by Navy ships and aircraft. Prior to Thursday, Russian warships had not been spotted near Japanese waters since October. At that time, a total of 10 ships from Russia and China were spotted touring the country, raising alarm for foreign countries operating near Japan. Later on Friday morning, nine other Russian vessels were spotted near Cape Soy, near the northernmost point of Hokkaido. Despite the concern, none of the warships found last week were found to have entered Japanese waters and were not seen doing anything dangerous. Japan last week continued to locate Russian warships near its own territorial waters, continuing a trend of Russian and Chinese vessels in the area. Above, a representational image of Russian warships. Vasily Batanov / AFP via Getty Images Russian forces have previously announced plans to conduct large-scale training exercises in the Pacific with 40 warships. The Japanese Ministry of Defense noted the possibility that the 16 ships located near the country’s waters participated in these exercises. As of Saturday, however, this had not been confirmed. The Joint Chiefs of Staff also announced that at about the same time, two Chinese rocket launchers were spotted crossing the Sea of Japan, heading from the Tsushima Strait to the Okhotsk Sea. Newsweek contacted the Japanese Ministry of Defense for comments. Tensions were high between Japan and Russia only in late April, when the latter warned of possible retaliation if Japanese and US vessels continued to conduct naval exercises near Russian waters. The statement, made by Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Igor Morgulov, came in response to reports that the US Marine Corps planned to carry out the largest exercises ever with Japan in September and October, known as the “Determined Dragon”, with more than troops. members that may take place. “We see such actions from the Japanese side as a threat to our country’s security,” Morgulov told the state-run RIA Novosti news network. “We are warning Tokyo directly about this through diplomacy. They should be prepared for the fact that if such practices are extended, Russia will retaliate in the interest of strengthening its defense capabilities.” Japan and the United States had previously held about 10 joint naval exercises in the wake of the invasion of Ukraine.
