Officials in Tokyo are concerned over a Chinese Naval fleet passing through the international straits between Japan’s northern island and Russia’s far east.  It’s the first time Chinese military vessels went through the Soya Straits.

The Japanese Defense Ministry says two missile destroyers, two frigates, and a supply ship passed through the Soya Strait from the Sea of Japan to the Sea of Okhotsk early Sunday.  The same five ships took part in joint naval exercises with Russia last week, and followed a larger fleet of 16 Russian naval ships seen moving through the Soya Strait in the same direction a day earlier.

The purpose of the Chinese fleet is not known.  China’s official Xinhua News Agency quoted General Fang Fenghui earlier saying the joint drills were “not targeting any third party”

Tensions have been growing over China’s maritime territorial disputes with its neighbors, particularly with Japan over Senkaku Islands near Okinawa on the southern end of Japan.