The China Coast Guard has continued to navigate in the contiguous zone around the Senkaku Islands on a daily basis. The frequency of territorial sea incursions also returned to the levels of June and July in August, although interrupted by Typhoon No. 3. After the typhoon, the frequency of China’s maritime operation seems to be resumed.

However, as the fishing ban comes to an end, China has indicated that it will closely monitor and manage its fishing vessels, and appears to be avoiding a situation in which tensions rise excessively. In fact, Cai Yongsheng, the Secretary of the Shishi Municipal Party Committee, has announced a policy of cracking down on “operations in sensitive waters” to local fishermen. The city announced this on its website on August 9. The fishing ban ended on August 16, and it remains to be seen what specific actions the Chinese authorities will take.

[Statistical Data as of August 15]

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