Statistical Data and Analysis
(as of January 30)

Various activities have been observed in the waters and airspace surrounding Japan. In the waters surrounding the Senkaku Islands, Chinese coast guard vessels continue to be active. According to data released by Japan Joint Staff on January 23, 2/3 of the all scrambles by Japan Air Self-Defense Force during the most recent period were against Chinese aircraft. A scramble is an emergency response by Japan Air Self-Defense Force to aircraft that are suspected of violating Japanese airspace. The fact that 2/3 of these incidents are against Chinese aircraft is a clear indication of the concentration of such incidents in the southwestern region of Japan.

The new Trump administration took office in the United States on January 20. It remains to be seen whether this will cause any changes in the future activities of the countries concerned, or nothing will change.

[Statistical Data as of January 30]

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)

Date

Topics

1/20

A traveling exhibition of Japan National Museum of Territory and Sovereignty opened in Marunouchi, Tokyo, on January 20. It will run until 27.

The exhibition introduces the history of the Senkaku Islands, Takeshima, and the Northern Territories, and displays panels showing the views of China, South Korea, and Russia, which claim these territories. The aim is to have visitors understand the legitimacy of Japan's claims based on historical facts.

At the exhibition, facsimiles of documents related to the Senkaku Islands, including a Cabinet decision on January 14, 1895, when the Senkaku Islands were incorporated into Japan's territory, and a letter of appreciation sent in 1920 by the consul of the Republic of China in Nagasaki to people in Ishigaki who rescued Chinese fishermen drifting in the Senkaku Islands, are on display. The letter of appreciation reads, “Senkaku Islands, Yaeyama County, Okinawa Prefecture, Japanese Empire”.

China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs officially claimed the Senkaku Islands in December 1971. On the other hand, it had a history of not objecting to Japan's possession of the Senkakus until the 1970s.

In the “World Atlas Collection” published by a publisher directly under the State Administration of Geodetic Survey of China, the 1960 edition included Senkaku Islands on a page showing a map of Japan. The 1972 edition, however, deleted the Senkaku Islands from the page showing Japan and added “Diaoyu Dao” (the Chinese name for the Senkaku Islands) to the page showing China. The panel also introduces the history of these alterations.

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Sankei News (Japanese)

https://www.sankei.com/article/20250120-R3MJAXOJLVFXLMYQ35GKMBLGZU/

1/22

　      On January 21 and 22, Japanese Defense Minister Nakatani visited the Yaeyama Islands in Okinawa Prefecture to encourage the Self-Defense Forces personnel who are responsible for territorial defense in the Yaeyama Islands. On Yonaguni Island, the utmost western point of Japan, Minister Nakatani held a press conference. He expressed the recognition that the security environment surrounding Japan is currently the most severe and complicated since the end of World War II, and the military movements of neighboring countries have become very active in the sea and airspace around the Yaeyama Islands, including Yonaguni Island. He added, “I strongly felt that we must protect the lives and property of our citizens, as well as our territory, territorial waters, and airspace.

(Source: Japan Ministry of Defense)

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Japan Ministry of Defense

https://www.mod.go.jp/j/press/kisha/2025/0122a_r.html

1/22

Japan Joint Staff confirmed one Chinese UAV (estimated) flying from East China Sea to the Pacific Ocean through the area between Yonaguni island and Taiwan on January 22.

(Source: Japan Joint Staff)

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Japan Joint Staff

   https://www.mod.go.jp/js/pdf/2025/p20250122_04.pdf

1/22

Japan Joint Staff confirmed one Chinese aircraft(estimated) flying from East China Sea to the Pacific Ocean through the area between Yonaguni island and Taiwan on January 22.

(Source: Japan Joint Staff)

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Japan Joint Staff

   https://www.mod.go.jp/js/pdf/2025/p20250122_05.pdf

1/22

New U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio discussed China's "dangerous and destabilizing actions in the South China Sea" with his Philippine counterpart on Wednesday and underscored the "ironclad" U.S. defense commitment to Manila.

"Secretary Rubio conveyed that (China's) behavior undermines regional peace and stability and is inconsistent with international law," the U.S. State Department said in a statement on the call with Foreign Minister Enrique Manalo.

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Reuters (English)

https://www.reuters.com/world/rubio-says-us-committed-philippines-call-about-chinas-dangerous-actions-2025-01-23/

1/23

A Japan Coast Guard survey vessel that was conducting a survey of the seafloor topography in Japan's exclusive economic zone off the coast of Nagasaki Prefecture was intermittently requested by a South Korean coast guard ship to stop the survey since the evening of January 22. In response, Japan Ministry of Foreign Affairs protested to South Korea.

According to the Japan Coast Guard, shortly after 5 p.m. on January 22, the Japan Coast Guard survey vessel Heiyou was surveying the seafloor topography in Japan's exclusive economic zone, 80 km northwest of Hizen-Torishima in Nagasaki Prefecture, when a South Korean coast guard vessel demanded over the radio that the survey be stopped. The request to stop the survey was made intermittently throughout the evening.

In response, the Japanese survey vessel responded over the radio that it was a legitimate survey activity. Japan Ministry of Foreign Affairs also protested to South Korea, saying that the survey was being conducted in Japan’s exclusive economic zone, and that South Korea's request to cease the survey was unacceptable.

The Japan Coast Guard conducts surveys in this area every year. The current survey began on the first of this month, and the Japan Coast Guard plans to continue it until the end of this month as scheduled.

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NHK News (Japanese)

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20250123/k10014700761000.html

1/23

On January 23, Japan Joint Staff released statistics on scramble by Japan Air Self-Defense Force between April 1, 2024 and December 31, 2024. The number of scrambles   during this period hit 521. That remained at a high level. The percentages of the number of scrambles by target country/region were approximately 66% for Chinese aircraft, 33% for Russian aircraft, and 1% for others.

(Source: Japan Joint Staff)

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Japan Joint Staff

https://www.mod.go.jp/js/pdf/2025/p20250123_01.pdf

https://www.mod.go.jp/js/pdf/2025/p20250123_02.pdf

1/24

Foreign Policy Speech by Minister for Foreign Affairs IWAYA to the 217th Session of the Diet (excerpt)

We will build stable, future-oriented relations with our neighboring countries, while addressing difficult issues head-on.

While there are various potentials for improved ties between Japan and China, there are also many challenges and concerns, such as China’s unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force in the East China Sea, including the waters surrounding the Senkaku Islands and the South China Sea, as well as a series of military activities around our country.

Peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait are also important. The Government of Japan expresses serious concerns about the human rights situation in China and the developments in Hong Kong.

At the same time, Japan and China share a significant responsibility for the peace and prosperity of the region and the international community.

Under the broad direction of comprehensively promoting a “Mutually Beneficial Relationship based on Common Strategic Interests” and building a “constructive and stable relationship,” Japan and China must work to reduce issues and concerns while increasing cooperation and coordination, as confirmed by Prime Minister Ishiba and President Xi Jinping last year.

Following the announcements by the governments of Japan and China regarding the discharge of ALPS-treated water into the sea and China’s import restrictions on Japanese aquatic products, we will continue to urge the early resumption of imports of Japanese aquatic products by China. We will also do our utmost to secure the early release of Japanese nationals who are being detained and to ensure the safety of all Japanese citizens.

Japan and the Republic of Korea (ROK) are important neighbors that should work as partners on challenges in the international community. The Government of Japan will continue to follow recent developments in the ROK with great interest. In light of the current strategic environment, the importance of Japan-ROK relations remains unchanged. During my recent visit to the ROK, H.E. Cho Tae-yul, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the ROK and I reaffirmed our commitment to continue working closely together, both bilaterally and trilaterally with the U.S., including on policies toward North Korea. Japan will continue to maintain close communication with the ROK.

Takeshima is an inherent part of Japan’s territory, based on historical facts and international law. Japan will address the issue resolutely, in accordance with this consistent position.

Japan-China-ROK trilateral cooperation is also important for regional and global peace and prosperity from a broad perspective, and we will continue to steadily advance this framework as the chair country.

North Korea’s nuclear and missile development is totally unacceptable. We are also deeply concerned about the growing military cooperation between Russia and North Korea, including the engagement of North Korean troops in combat against Ukraine, given its impact not only on the situation in Ukraine but also on the security of the region surrounding Japan.

We will continue to coordinate closely with the international community to ensure the full implementation of relevant Security Council resolutions.

Our basic policy remains unchanged: we will achieve the normalization of relations with North Korea, in accordance with the Japan-DPRK Pyongyang Declaration, by comprehensively resolving outstanding issues of concern, such as the abductions, nuclear and missile issues, as well as settlement of the unfortunate past.

In order to achieve the return of all abductees at the earliest possible date and resolve the outstanding issues of concern between Japan and North Korea, the Government of Japan, under the Prime Minister’s strong determination, will spare no effort in taking the most effective measures toward that goal.

(Source: Japan Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

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Ministry of Foreign Affairs

https://www.mofa.go.jp/fp/pp/pageite_000001_00780.html

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