China lodged solemn representations during first joint training of patrol vessels between Japan and Taiwan after severance of diplomatic ties

The Japan Coast Guard and Taiwan's Coast Guard held joint training in the waters off eastern Japan on Thursday (18th). According to Taiwan's Central News Agency, this was the first time the two sides held joint naval training since Japan and the Republic of China severed diplomatic ties in 1972. In response, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed strong dissatisfaction and has lodged "solemn representations" with the Japanese side.

The Associated Press quoted Japanese officials as saying that the patrol ship Sagami of the Japan Coast Guard and the Patrol 9 of the Taiwan Coast Guard held a joint training exercise in the waters south of Chiba Prefecture on Thursday, but no other details were provided. Japan's NHK TV reported that the Patrol 9 first went to the high seas to carry out a patrol mission to protect fishing boats, then docked at Tokyo Port to refuel, and then joined the training.

Since this joint maritime training between Taiwan and Japan is believed to be the first since the severance of diplomatic relations between the two sides, and it coincides with the escalation of China's aggressive behavior in regional waters, it has attracted special attention from the outside world.

However, Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi denied on Friday that the training was aimed at any specific country, including China. He said: "This is part of practical cooperation and exchanges in the field of marine search and rescue operations... We did not have China or other third countries in mind."

The Associated Press further quoted Hayashi Yoshimasa as saying that Taiwan is Japan's "very important partner and precious friend" and that the two sides share basic values, economic ties, and people-to-people exchanges. He pointed out that Tokyo plans to deepen cooperation and relations with Taiwan on the basis of "maintaining a non-governmental, pragmatic relationship."

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian expressed "strong dissatisfaction" at a regular press conference on Friday, saying that China has lodged solemn representations with Japan. He said that Japan had made solemn promises to China on the Taiwan issue, including not to create "two Chinas" or "one China, one Taiwan" and not to support "Taiwan independence", and urged Japan to correct its mistakes immediately.

Meanwhile, Reuters reported on Friday that two oil tankers, the Singapore-flagged Hafnia Nile and the Chinese-owned Ceres I, were on fire after colliding about 55 kilometers northeast of Pedra Branca, Singapore.

According to photos released by the Singapore Navy, thick black smoke was seen coming out of one of the tankers and the search and rescue operation was ongoing.