China Coast Guard Conducts Patrol Near Senkaku Islands Amid Tensions With Japan

A formation of China Coast Guard ships sailed through the waters near the Senkaku Islands on Sunday, calling the operation a “rights enforcement patrol.” The move comes amid rising tensions between Beijing and Tokyo following comments by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi regarding Taiwan.

In her remarks to parliament on November 7, Takaichi stated that a hypothetical Chinese attack on Taiwan, a democratically-governed island, could prompt a military response from Japan. Beijing reacted strongly, demanding that Takaichi retract her statements. China views Taiwan as part of its territory and has not ruled out the use of force to assert control, while Taiwan’s government rejects these claims. The island lies roughly 110 kilometers (68 miles) from Japanese territory.

According to a China Coast Guard statement, “China Coast Guard vessel 1307 formation conducted patrols within the territorial waters of the Diaoyu Islands. This was a lawful patrol operation conducted by the China Coast Guard to uphold its rights and interests.” China refers to the islands as Diaoyu, while Japan administers them as the Senkaku. Encounters in this disputed area between the two countries’ vessels have occurred frequently in recent years.

The Japanese Embassy in Beijing did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Takaichi’s remarks have intensified pressure from Beijing, with China’s Consul General in Osaka saying, “The dirty head that sticks itself out must be cut off,” a statement that prompted a formal protest from Tokyo.

Beijing summoned the Japanese ambassador for the first time in over two years, and China’s defense ministry warned that any Japanese military intervention in a Taiwan scenario would fail. On Friday, China advised its citizens to avoid traveling to Japan, and three Chinese airlines later allowed ticket refunds or free changes. Tokyo urged Beijing to take “appropriate measures” but did not provide further details.

In Taiwan, the defense ministry reported on Sunday that over the past 24 hours, 30 Chinese military aircraft and seven naval ships had been detected around the island. Saturday’s patrol was described by Taipei as a “joint combat patrol” intended to “harass the air space and sea around us.” Taiwan dispatched its own aircraft and vessels to monitor the operations. Such Chinese patrols occur several times a month, forming part of what Taiwan calls an ongoing campaign of military pressure.

Taiwan’s government maintains that the island’s future can only be decided by its own people. Japanese officials have traditionally avoided explicit statements about Taiwan, adhering to a policy of “strategic ambiguity,” a stance also supported by Tokyo’s key security partner, the United States.

The latest patrol underscores the volatility in the East China Sea and the continuing strategic tensions between China, Japan, and Taiwan.