The Chinese Navy deployed a squadron of ships through straits near Japan into the Western Pacific this week, while Beijing on Friday expressed displeasure over Tokyo’s adoption of a new national security strategy.

According to the Associated Press, destroyers Lhasa and Kaifeng, and a replenishment ship, sailed through the Osumi Strait in southern Japan, while a Dongdiao-class surveillance ship with hull number 796 sailed through the Miyako Strait south of Okinawa, all arriving in the Western Pacific by Thursday.

Japan’s Defense Ministry said the craft was closely shadowed by Japanese ships and planes throughout.

The Global Times on Friday cited unidentified experts saying the mission “sent a signal amid Japan’s recent militaristic moves” that will display the People’s Liberation Army’s “capabilities in safeguarding China’s national sovereignty, territorial integrity and development interests.”

Even while Japan strongly objects to the presence of foreign navy ships in the Taiwan Strait, China routinely sends warships through straits between Japanese islands.

Facing challenges from North Korea, China and Russia, Japan on Friday adopted a national security strategy declaring plans to possess preemptive strike capability and cruise missiles within years.

The strategy slammed China as “the biggest strategic challenge” to Japan’s effort toward ensuring peace, safety and stability for itself and international society.

Japan plans to spend 5 trillion yen ($37 billion) to deploy foreign-developed standoff missiles as early as 2026, including Lockheed Martin’s Tomahawk and Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile, while Japan’s Mitsubishi Heavy Industry develops a surface-to-ship guided missile.

Image courtesy: Representative image via The Diplomat