TOKYO (AP) — A Chinese aircraft carrier entered an area near Japan’s shores for the first time on Wednesday, leading Tokyo to convey its “serious concerns” to Beijing over China’s increasingly assertive military actions around Japan, officials said.
The Chinese carrier Liaoning, accompanied by two destroyers, sailed between Japan’s westernmost island of Yonaguni and nearby Iriomote, entering the country's co-called “contiguous zone,” the Defense Ministry said. That's an area of sea beyond a country's territorial waters in which it can still exercise some control over maritime traffic, reaching up to 24 nautical miles offshore.
The Liaoning's transit was part of a fleet movement Tuesday and Wednesday, during which Chinese warships also passed off the western coast of the disputed Japanese-controlled islets it calls the Senkakus, the ministry said. China claims the same islets, calling them the Diaoyus.
Japan’s Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Hiroshi Moriya told reporters that “the latest incident is absolutely unacceptable from the perspective of the national and regional security.”
Last month, Japan said that a Chinese Y-9 reconnaissance airplane violated Japanese airspace. Days later, a Chinese survey ship breached the Japanese territorial water just off the southern prefecture of Kagoshima.
Moriya said the Japanese government expressed “our serious concerns” to China through diplomatic channels on Wednesday.
“China has increasingly expanded and intensified military activities around Japan in recent years,” Moriya said. “We will continue to closely watch Chinese warships’ activity around Japan and the regional waters while ensuring information gathering and vigilance.”
In Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian defended the activity of his country's warships, saying it “complies with China’s domestic laws and international laws.”
Tokyo had reinforced defenses in southwestern Japan, including remote islands that are considered key to Japan’s defense strategy in the region.
The Soviet-built Liaoning underwent extensive refurbishing before being commissioned in 2012 as China's first aircraft carrier. The country now has two more aircraft carriers, including one fully designed and built in China.
FILE -The Liaoning, China's first aircraft carrier, sails into Hong Kong for a port call to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) garrison's presence in the semi-autonomous Chinese city and former British colony on July 7, 2017. (AP Photo/Vincent Yu, File)
CINCINNATI (AP) — Marcell Ozuna homered, Gio Urshela drove in three runs and Spencer Schwellenbach pitched six innings of one-run ball as the Atlanta Braves beat the Cincinnati Reds 7-1 on Wednesday night.
The win allowed the Braves to stay within two games of the Mets for the final National League wild card spot.
The Braves are 1-4 against the Reds this season.
Ozuna greeted Tony Santillan (2-3) with his 38th home run of the season in the seventh, a solo shot that broke a 1-1 tie. The blast ended Ozuna's home run drought at 26 games and his RBI drought at 19 games. Urshela drove in two runs with a bases loaded single, pushing the lead to 4-1.
In the eighth, Michael Harris II homered and Ozuna doubled to knock in Eli White and record his 100th RBI of the season.
Urshela drove in his third run with a ground-rule double in the ninth.
Schwellenbach (7-7) made his 19th start for the Braves. In six innings, he allowed one run on five hits while striking out five and walking two.
The Reds managed three hits in the first five innings and pushed their only run across in the sixth. Elly De La Cruz hit his ninth triple into the right field corner to lead off the inning. De La Cruz scored on TJ Friedl's safety squeeze.
Jakob Junis made his fourth start for the Reds. He was pressed into a starting role when Hunter Greene, Andrew Abbott and Nick Lodolo were injured. Junis retired the first 11 Braves’ batters before Ozuna doubled. Matt Olsen’s single to center broke the scoreless tie in the fourth.
Junis pitched six innings, allowing just two hits. He retired 18 of the 20 batters he faced.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Braves: Ozzie Albies made his first rehab start Tuesday night. “He hit off lefties all night. Everything was good. I hope he can get some right on right at bats, tonight," manager Brian Snitker said.
Reds: The Reds are deciding whether Hunter Greene will make a start Sunday. “He will make two starts,” David Bell said.
UP NEXT
The final of the three-game series on Thursday afternoon will feature the Reds' rookie Julian Aguiar (2-0, 4.88 ERA) against Braves' veteran Chris Sale (17-3, 2.35 ERA).
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
Cincinnati Reds' TJ Friedl grounds out against the Atlanta Braves during the second inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)
Cincinnati Reds left fielder Spencer Steer catches a fly ball hit by Atlanta Braves' Ramón Laureano during the second inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)
Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Jakob Junis throws against the Atlanta Braves during the first inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)
Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Spencer Schwellenbach throws against the Cincinnati Reds during the first inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)
Atlanta Braves first baseman Matt Olson catches the ball to get Cincinnati Reds' Ty France out during the second inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)
Atlanta Braves' Orlando Arcia hits a ground ball against the Cincinnati Reds during the third inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)
Ozuna homers, Urshela drives in 3 as Braves beat Reds 7-1
Ozuna homers, Urshela drives in 3 as Braves beat Reds 7-1
Atlanta Braves' Matt Olson, right, celebrates his home run against the Cincinnati Reds with teammate Marcell Ozuna during the first inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)
