[Japan Ministry of Defense: Chinese Navy Fleet Transits Hachijō Strait and Ōsumi Strait]

According to information from the Japan Ministry of Defense's Joint Staff Department on September 16, 2026: Around 10:00 a.m. on September 15, the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force confirmed two Chinese naval vessels approximately 100 kilometers northeast of Amami Ōshima Island — one was the Chinese Navy's Type 052D guided-missile destroyer Baotou (hull number "133"), heading westward, and the other was the Type 054A guided-missile frigate Yuxi (hull number "535").

Subsequently, it was confirmed that these vessels passed through the strait between Amami Ōshima and Hachijō Island (Hachijō Strait), sailing southwest toward the East China Sea.

It is reported that these two vessels are the same fleet that sailed southward through the waters between Okinawa Island and Miyako Island (Okinawa Prefecture) on August 22 (Saturday).

The Japan Ministry of Defense and the Self-Defense Forces dispatched the JMSDF's 9th Surface Squadron's patrol vessel "Hamikaze" (based in Yokosuka) for surveillance and intelligence gathering.

Around 7:00 a.m. on September 15, the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force confirmed two moving vessels approximately 50 kilometers southeast of Kui Cape (in Miyazaki Prefecture): one was the Chinese Navy's Type 052D guided-missile destroyer Rikaze (hull number "159"), heading northwestward, and the other was a Type 054A guided-missile frigate (hull number "537").

It was subsequently confirmed that these vessels passed through the Ōsumi Strait, heading westward toward the East China Sea.

It is reported that these two vessels are also part of the same fleet that sailed southward through the waters between Okinawa Island and Miyako Island (Okinawa Prefecture) on August 22 (Saturday).

The Japan Ministry of Defense and the Self-Defense Forces dispatched the JMSDF's 3rd Surveillance and Defense Unit's patrol vessel "Shiratengu" (based in Sasebo) for surveillance and intelligence gathering.

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Original article: toutiao.com/article/1876476026055755/

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