'Florita' to affect disputed sea, US military bases

MANILA, Philippines — Chinese state-run media on Monday warned that super typhoon Neoguri (Florita in the Philippines) is heading toward China's coastal areas and the disputed waters near Japan.

Neoguri, the first categorized as super typhoon in 2014, is expected to affect the disputed areas of East China Sea, specifically waters near Diaoyu Islands, called Senkaku Islands in Japan. The name "Neoguri" means a raccoon dog in South Korea.

The National Meteorological Center of China says it is the eighth typhoon to enter China's area of responsibility, which the state considers to include almost the entire East China Sea in the western Pacific Ocean.

LIVE updates: Super typhoon Florita

The weather agency forecast that Neoguri will move northwestward at a speed of 25 to 30 km per hour as its force strengthens and arrive at the southeastern part of East China Sea on Tuesday morning.

It added that Neoguri will bring strong gales along its path, from the ocean east of Taiwan, most of East China, north of Zhejiang Province to the Yangtze River estuary.

The powerful cyclone is also expected to hit Okinawa, Japan, where the United States military maintains an expansive hub.

Military bases in the areas are currently at Typhoon Condition 3 out of the highest of 4, according to the Business Insider. Kadena Air Force Base predicted the following wind forecast (via Stripes):

• Sustained 40-mph winds, from 11:00 p.m. Monday.
• Sustained 58-mph winds, from 5:00 a.m. Tuesday.
• Maximum 155-mph winds and 190-mph gusts, noon Tuesday.
• Winds diminishing below 58 mph, from 8:00 p.m. Tuesday.
• Winds diminishing below 40 mph, from 3:00 a.m. Wednesday.

China's maritime patrol units have been aggressively monitoring the disputed waters in the past years, with Beijing declaring an air defense identification zone over it last December prohibiting foreign aircrafts to pass without permission.

Japan and allied United States opposed the unilaterally declared zone.