Sea of Japan: Military Exercise Draws Warnings

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Sea of Japan

Military Exercise Draws Warnings
South Korea said its air force fired 360 warning shots today when a Russian-Chinese military exercise involving four bombers and an airborne early warning and control craft violated what South Korea considers its territorial airspace. The planes were operating off the east coast of the Korean peninsula as part of Russia’s first long-range joint air patrol with China in the Asia-Pacific region. The airspace that South Korea says Russia and China violated is above a group of South Korean-held islands, the Liancourt Rocks, which have been the subject of long-standing sovereignty disputes between Japan and South Korea. Japan also issued warnings to Russia and China for allegedly violating its own airspace because it considers the islands Japanese territory.

This map depicts the location of the territory South Korea and Japan say was violated. Click on the map to learn more.

Further Reading: Reuters, Associated Press, New York Times, Al Jazeera

Graphic Source: AFP
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Cambodia
China Denies Secret Defense Deal
Beijing has reportedly signed a secret deal with Cambodia that would grant the Chinese military exclusive rights to a naval base on the Gulf of Thailand for 30 years. The agreement would allow unprecedented access to contested territory in the South China Sea, according to a Wall Street Journal report quoting anonymous U.S. officials. Both the Chinese and Cambodian governments have denied the existence of such a deal. The base is located near Dara Sakor, a Chinese-backed real estate project, with a runway U.S. officials say is unusually long and can be used for military vehicles.

This map depicts the location of a Cambodian naval base to which China has allegedly been granted access. Click on the map to learn more.

Further Reading: NPR, Asia Times, South China Morning Post, International Business Times

Graphic Source: WSJ
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Ethiopia
Violence Over Proposed State
More than 30 people have died following clashes between Ethiopian police and activists from the Sidama ethnic group seeking to establish their own federal state. The Sidama, who make up the nation’s fifth-largest ethnic group, submitted a request last year for a referendum to declare their own officially recognized region. Protests began after the government failed to organize the referendum in time for its deadline on Thursday, July 18. Members of other ethnic communities have also been affected by the country’s ongoing violence.

This map depicts the location of the country’s proposed Sidama state. Click on the map to learn more.

Further Reading: Al Jazeera, Africa News, Ethiopia Observer, Addis Standard

Graphic Source: BBC

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Yesterday’s Answer

Q: China and Russia mostly share a river border that includes multiple rivers. Which river serves as the longest part of the China-Russia border?

A: Amur River
The Amur River is the 10th longest river in the world and also serves as part of the border of Russia and China. It is 1,755 miles long and is a major economic artery in north east Russia.

Source

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Q: Which Italian mountain range was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2009?

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Sea of Japan: Military Exercise Draws Warnings