TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – China announced military drills in the East China Sea Saturday, just one day after a Japanese destroyer passed through the Taiwan Strait.

The JS Ikazuchi sailed in the area from 4:02 a.m. to 5:50 p.m. on Friday, triggering accusations of a “deliberate provocation” from China. The People’s Liberation Army’s Eastern Theater Command said it deployed naval and air forces to track and warn the vessel.

The command said it was organizing joint exercises between navy and air force Saturday in the area between China, Taiwan, and Japan, though it did not provide details about a precise location. Even though the drills came just a day after the passage of the Japanese destroyer, the command said they were a normal part of planned exercises for 2026, CNA reported.

The sailing of the Ikazuchi was the first time a Japanese naval vessel passed through the Taiwan Strait since Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae took office in Oct. 2025. The ship was believed to be on its way to join exercises with the Philippines.

The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force said on its Facebook page that the ship will take part in activities with partner navies over the next six months in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific.