The Japanese Coast Guard said that for several weeks, Chinese coast guard vessels have been passing by waters claimed by Japan in the East China Sea, and in recent days, China’s warships have been spotted near Japan’s southwestern islands.
It added that last week, a fleet of four Chinese coast guard vessels passed just outside the territorial waters of Japan-controlled “Senkaku” islands, which Beijing also claims, for the 49th consecutive day.
Japan has warned China’s vessels against further approaching the islands, which Beijing calls the “Diaoyu.”
The Chinese Coast Guard said it was patrolling waters off the Diaoyu Islands, which Taiwan also claims.
China routinely sends coast guard vessels and planes into waters and airspace surrounding the islands to harass Japanese vessels in the area and force Japan to scramble jets in response.
In January, Japan Coast Guard Commandant Shohei Ishii said the infiltrations of the Chinese Coast Guard inside Japanese territorial waters violate international law, stressing the “situation is extremely serious and is unpredictable.”
Amid China’s growing assertiveness and tension concerning Taiwan, an autonomous island that Beijing claims as its territory, Tokyo has significantly reinforced its defense of southwestern Japan, including Okinawa and its outer islands, in recent years.
Under a new security strategy adopted in December 2022, Tokyo is also accelerating the development of long-range cruise missiles that can hit targets in China and North Korea.
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