The Yomiuri reported, citing several government sources, that Japan's Self Defense Force had patrolled the Taiwan Strait for the first ever time on Wednesday in an effort to send a signal to China.

The Japanese newspaper reported that the SDF destroyer Sazanami completed the passage by sailing southward for more than 10 hours after entering the waters of the East China Sea.

The paper reported that the passage was carried out in conjunction with naval vessels from Australia and New Zealand.

A SDF official refused to comment on the story.

Tokyo is concerned by the recent increase in Chinese military activities near Japan and Taiwan. Japan responded by building up its defences to try to dissuade China from using force to enforce territorial claims.

China announced on Wednesday that it successfully launched an intercontinental missile into the Pacific Ocean. Leaders of the Quad grouping, which includes Australia, India and Japan, also expanded their joint security measures in Asia's waterways last week due to concerns they shared about China. (Reporting and editing by Kim Coghill, Tim Kelly and Chang-Ran Kim)

(source: Reuters)