Japan's Defence Ministry reported (June 20) that on June 18 a submarine of foreign origin, presumed to belong to the Chinese Navy, was spotted passing through the contiguous zone off the coast of Amami-Oshima island in southern Japan. While the announcement did not identify the submarine’s nation, a government source said it was likely Chinese. A Maritime Self-Defense Force vessel tailed the submarine and confirmed it left the contiguous zone on June 20. The last time the Defense Ministry announced a foreign submarine had passed through the contiguous zone was in January 2018.