U.S. SURVEY SHIP OPS NEAR SENKAKUS; USG REPLY TO

C O N F I D E N T I A L STATE 137357 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/14/2016 TAGS: PREL PHSA PGOV MARR CH JA SUBJECT: U.S. SURVEY SHIP OPS NEAR SENKAKUS; USG REPLY TO GOJ DEMARCHE REF: A. A) CTE74.10.4.3 0883 ¶B. B) TOKYO 4451 ¶C. C) EAP/J/ALBRIGHT-OSD/IA/HILL AUGUST 2 E-MAIL Classified By: EAP PDAS Kathleen Stephens for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). CABLE REPEATED WITH ADDITIONAL ADDRESSEES (SECNAV WASHDC, COMUSJAPAN YOKOTA AB JA) ¶1. (C) Per post's request (ref B),following are talking points in response to a GOJ demarche in which Japan asked the United States to explain the activities of U.S. Navy survey vessel USNS Victorious on August 1 in waters north of the Senkaku islands and what interactions took place with the Chinese vessels. The USNS Victorious was sighted by the Japan Coast Guard traveling "in the same direction and in the same area" as three Chinese survey ships, near the median line between the Exclusive Economic Zones claimed by Japan and China. ¶2. (C/REL JAPAN) Post is asked to deliver the following points to the appropriate GOJ interlocutor: -- USNS Victorious is an ocean surveillance ship. Our ocean surveillance ships work directly with the Navy, listening for undersea threats. On August 1, it was engaged in lawful military activities in international waters, in accordance with international law. -- USNS Victorious was NOT operating in any way with the Chinese vessels. -- The Chinese vessels approached the USNS Victorious to ask what our vessel was doing in what they said was their exclusive economic zone. -- USNS Victorious replied that it was engaged in lawful military activities in international waters, in accordance with international law. It gave no further details. (If asked) -- USNS Victorious was not engaged in marine scientific research. RICE