In October, the number of Chinese incursions into Japan's territorial waters and navigation in the contiguous zone around the Senkaku Islands remained at the same level as the previous month. In addition, Russian military aircraft approached Japanese airspace, and Russian and Chinese naval vessels jointly sailed around Japan.

Since last month, Russian and Chinese military vessels had sailed together near Japanese territorial waters. They crossed the Tsushima Strait and sailed through the Sea of Japan toward Cape Soya. After passing Cape Soya, they had sailed toward the Pacific Ocean. In October, They navigated the Pacific Ocean and returned to the East China Sea. They tried to circumnavigate around Japan.

The Chinese aircraft carrier, ““Liaoning,” and its escort vessel have also navigated in the waters south of Japan. Liaoning has conducted hundreds of take-off and landing exercises.

In addition, Russian and Chinese military aircraft came close to Japanese airspace. On October 20, Chinese bombers and surveillance aircraft approached Japanese airspace in Okinawa. On October 22, Russian bombers and fighters approached Japanese airspace several times.

[Statistical Data as of October 29]

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.