In the second half of August, the number of China’s intrusion into Japan’s territorial waters around the Senkaku Islands is two days, which is relatively low or the same compared to the past two months. The China Coast Guard has also continued to navigate in the contiguous zone around the Senkaku Islands on a daily basis as well.

However, there have been two intrusions into Japanese territory by Chinese naval and air forces other than the coast guard. On August 26, Japan's Defense Ministry confirmed that Chinese military aircraft had intruded into the Japanese airspace. This has never happened before. Air Self-Defense Force fighters were scrambled in response. A spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of National Defense stated that “China has always respected the sovereignty of each country and hopes that this will not be interpreted as excessive,” and reiterated that China and Japan are communicating through diplomatic channels.

Shortly after, on August 31, a Chinese naval survey ship had intruded into territorial waters off the coast of Kagoshima Prefecture. This is the 13th confirmed intrusion into territorial waters by Chinese naval vessels and 10 repeated intrusions into territorial waters in this area since November 2021.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Hayashi announced at a press conference on September 2 that Japan had conveyed strong concern and protested to the Chinese side through diplomatic channels over this intrusion of a Chinese naval survey ship, in light of previous Chinese naval ship movements and the August 26 airspace violation by a Chinese military aircraft.

In contrast to such aggressive attempts by China, Japan has demonstrated its effective control over the Senkaku Islands through day-to-day administration. On August 19, the Japan Coast Guard in Ishigaki City, Okinawa Prefecture, filed charges of violating the Immigration Control Act against a Mexican man who was rescued after landing in a canoe on Uotsuri Island in the Senkaku Islands on August 16. It was significant in terms of Japan’s exercise of sovereignty that the Coast Guard rescued a Mexican man on Uotsuri Island and referred the case against him on suspicion of leaving territorial waters without following proper procedures.

[Statistical Data as of August 31]

Japan Coast Guard (JCG) daily updates the statistical data on the number of China Coast Guard vessels entering in the contiguous zone around the Senkaku Islands and intruding into Japanese territorial waters. The below is from the website of JCG.

(https://www.kaiho.mlit.go.jp/mission/senkaku/senkaku.html)

Newsletter Registration

What is happening in East Asian Maritime Security? The Research Institute for Peace and Security (RIPS) publishes the biweekly newsletter, “East Asian Maritime Security (EAMS)” and updates the information on maritime security relevant to East Asia and Japan's territory.