中国潜水艦か、接続水域を潜航　奄美大島東を北西に―防衛省

　防衛省は１２日、中国海軍のものとみられる潜水艦が１０日午前、鹿児島・奄美大島東の接続水域内を潜ったまま北西に進んでいるのを確認したと発表した。
　同省によると、国際法上、潜水艦が他国の接続水域内を潜航することは禁じられていないが、特異な事例として公表した。岸信夫防衛相は緊張感を持って情報収集や警戒監視に万全を期すよう指示を出した。（2021/09/12-10:41）

Japan's Defense Ministry said Sunday a submarine that is believed to belong to China's navy was confirmed cruising northwest under the water within Japan's contiguous zone east of the island of Amami Oshima in Kagoshima Prefecture, southwestern Japan, Friday morning.
   Under international law, a submarine of a country is not banned from traveling underwater within a contiguous zone of another country, according to the ministry. But the ministry announced the latest case because it was a rare instance, it said.
   Japanese Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi instructed ministry staff to collect information about the submarine in question and keep alert with a sense of tension.
   The Maritime Self-Defense Force found the submarine cruising northwest under the water outside the contiguous zone east of Amami Oshima on Friday morning. A Chinese navy missile destroyer was also spotted nearby.
   The submarine entered the contiguous zone later. As of Sunday morning, it was sailing west outside the Japanese contiguous zone west-southwest of Yokoatejima, another island in Kagoshima, according to the ministry.