A Chinese aircraft carrier for the first time passed through a narrow waterway between Yonaguni and Iriomote islands in Okinawa Prefecture on Wednesday, the Defense Ministry in Tokyo said, the latest in a spate of moves in the region by Beijing.
According to a map released by the ministry, China¡¯s Liaoning carrier and two other ships accompanying it also entered Japan¡¯s so-called contiguous zone ¡ª international waters that extend an additional 12 nautical miles (22 kilometers) beyond its territorial seas 12 nautical miles from its shores. The waterway itself is only about 65 km ¡ª 35 nautical miles ¡ª wide.
Under international law, vessels from other countries are allowed to travel in Japan¡¯s contiguous zone, though it can take measures if a ship enters its territorial waters.
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