TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan’s defense ministry confirmed Friday it monitored a Japanese warship transiting the Taiwan Strait but declined to comment further on the operation.

CNA reported that the Japanese destroyer, JS Ikazuchi, passed through the strait from 4:02 a.m. to 5:50 p.m. on Friday. China’s Eastern Theater Command later deployed naval and air forces to track and warn the vessel.

China criticized the transit as “a deliberate provocation,” Reuters reported. A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said the move undermined regional stability and confirmed Beijing had lodged a formal protest with Japan.

Economic Daily News reported this was the fourth time a Japanese naval vessel has transited the Taiwan Strait in recent years. Previous passages occurred in September 2024, February 2025, and June 2025 — with about 10 months since the last transit.

The destroyer is believed to be heading south to join joint military exercises between Japan and the Philippines starting Monday, per Liberty Times. The drills are expected to include naval formations, amphibious operations, and air defense training.

National Taiwan University associate professor Jason Kuo (郭銘傑) said the transit reflects growing regional security cooperation. He added that it signals support for freedom of navigation while potentially increasing political tensions.