The China Coast Guard has been navigating in the contiguous zone around the Senkaku Islands on a daily basis, although the number of consecutive navigating days was interrupted at 215 days due to the Typhoon No.3. However, compared to late June and the first half of July, the number of intrusions into Japanese territorial waters by China appears to be decreasing. It is unclear at this point whether the decreasing frequency of China’s intrusions is a short-term response to the typhoon or a long-term trend, and the situation needs to be carefully monitored.

China's ongoing aggressive maritime expansion has prompted historic cooperation between Japan and Taiwan on July 18. The coast guards of Taiwan and Japan conducted a joint drill to prepare for contingencies in the East and South China Seas. This was the first time since Japan and Taiwan severed diplomatic relations in 1972.

On July 28, the Japan-U.S. Security Consultative Committee (SCC) was held, and Japan and US officials reiterated their strong opposition to the China’s intensifying attempts to unilaterally change the status quo in the East China Sea by force or coercion. The US side reaffirmed that Article V of the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty applies to the Senkaku Islands. Immediately after the meeting, China expressed grave concerns and opposed Japan and the U.S., alleging that they were "falsely" accusing China on maritime issues. It is reported that China summoned Mr. Yokochi, minister of the Embassy of Japan in China, to lodge serious protests with Japan. Mr. Yokochi, according to the embassy, properly explained the Japanese government's position and reiterated Japan's position on various issues concerning China.

[Statistical Data as of July 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

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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.