In January, a Chinese naval vessel fixed its fire-control radar on a Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Forces ship.
This comes as America's ties with South Korea have been strengthened and China's frayed by the destruction of a naval vessel, the Cheonan, in March.
South Korea was angered by China's refusal to condemn North Korea for sinking a naval vessel and shelling civilians on one of its islands.
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It was to be followed by two other French planes based in Dakar, and a naval vessel currently cruising in the Gulf of Guinea, several days' sailing away.
The flight was timed, in part, to the anniversary of the 2010 sinking of a South Korean naval vessel, the Cheonan, which resulted in the death of 46 South Korean sailors.
The torpedoing of a South Korean naval vessel in March, which the Seoul government blamed on the Pyongyang regime, caused an international outcry that led to further efforts to isolate it economically.
As for South Korea, openness will wait until after the departure of President Lee Myung-bak, who is still waiting for North Korea to apologise for sinking a naval vessel and shelling civilians in 2010.
Similarly, many observers have been surprised by the number and range of the weapons being used against Israeli civilians and, in at least one case, against an IDF naval vessel off the Lebanese coast.
In the first, a North Korean submarine engaged in an act of war when it covertly torpedoed a South Korean naval vessel on March 21, resulting in the latter's sinking with the loss of 46 lives.
Using a satellite phone, he called officials in New Zealand and Australia both countries claim sovereignty over parts of the Southern Ocean and are staunchly against whaling and requested that a naval vessel take the Japanese ship into custody.
And we talked also about the incident in which North Korea attacked the -- attacked and sunk the North Korean naval -- South Korean naval vessel, and we talked also about the issue of Iran and Afghanistan.
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Pyongyang not only has a history of provocative verbal threats, but it has taken reckless military actions as recently as two years ago, when the North sank a South Korean naval vessel and shelled an island occupied by the South.
In its battle against Argentina over defaulted bonds, Elliott Management has worked to seize sovereign assets, successfully convincing the government of Ghana last year to take possession of an Argentine naval vessel, much to the dismay of President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner.
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Last year's presumed attack on the South Korean naval vessel, the Cheonan, in March, killing 46 sailors and the artillery barrage on civilians living on the island of Yeonpyeong in November were only the latest in a string of lawless acts of aggression.
What is more, South Koreans, who have been infuriated by illegal acts by American servicemen in the past, have become less opposed to having American bases since North Korea was suspected of sinking a naval vessel, the Cheonan, two years ago, with the loss of 46 lives.
This belief in escalation dominance can be seen in the recent actions of an emboldened -- and some would say desperate -- North Korea, which has resorted to limited surprise uses of military force, first sinking a South Korean naval vessel and then shelling an island near the disputed maritime Northern Limit Line.
The Irish naval service vessel also has a team of divers, but they can only be used in perfect weather conditions.
In June, Brunei Investment Agency head Aziz Umar rushed to London to confer with the Sultan amid talks that their order for a new British naval defense vessel is threatened by the cash shortfall.
Pachnia, of no fixed abode, and Dylik were arrested after UK Border Agency officials found the cocaine during a search of the vessel at Portsmouth Naval Dockyard.
Last year HMS Clyde was the first vessel to emerge from the Hampshire naval base since 1967, when Leander-class frigate HMS Andromeda was completed.
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China said the new vessel is part of a systematic upgrading of naval hardware.
The ship, which led the UK's naval forces during the invasion of Iraq, is the fifth vessel to carry the name - the first saw battle in 1588 against the Spanish Armada.
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