Chinese Coast Guard vessels intrude Japanese territory near the Senkakus isles
In the early hours of Saturday, July 9, 2025, Chinese coast guard ships entered Japanese territorial waters near the Senkaku Islands, a chain of islands located in the East China Sea and administered by Japan but also claimed by China.
The entry occurred around 12:50 a.m., and the Chinese vessels approached an unspecified island in the Senkaku chain. The Japan Coast Guard, based in Naha, Okinawa Prefecture, confirmed the entry. However, no Japanese fishing vessel was involved, and no reported incidents or conflicts with the Japan Coast Guard occurred.
This incident followed an earlier intrusion on July 8, but unlike the recent incidents in August 2025, no warning was issued by the Japan Coast Guard. The Chinese coast guard ships left Japanese waters on July 11.
The Senkaku Islands have been a source of ongoing Sino-Japanese tensions. In August 2025, multiple entries of Chinese coast guard ships into Japanese territorial waters near the Senkakus were reported. On August 2, two Chinese coast guard ships entered waters near Uotsuri Island, attempting to approach a Japanese fishing vessel before being warned to leave by the Japan Coast Guard. Subsequently, on August 4, the same two ships intruded again, this time near Taisho Island, once more approaching a Japanese fishing boat, prompting JCG warnings.
Japan has been documenting Chinese coast guard ships near these disputed waters for a record streak of over 200 consecutive days as of early August 2025, indicating persistent presence and activity by Chinese vessels around the islands. The Japanese responses have so far focused on maritime law enforcement and warnings, while the incidents underscore ongoing tensions between the two nations.
The broader geopolitical tensions behind these maritime incidents stem from the Chinese government's view of the Senkaku Islands as Chinese territory (Diaoyu), while Japan maintains administrative control. Various analyses suggest that China’s actions at sea reflect a strategic posture linked to national security priorities outlined in recent policy documents, with China appearing to downplay ongoing tensions despite escalation at sea.
In summary, the timeline and key details of the July 9 incident are:
- July 9–11, 2025: Chinese coast guard ships intruded into Japanese waters near Senkaku, leaving by July 11.
- August 2, 2025: Two Chinese coast guard ships entered near Uotsuri Island, approached Japanese fishing vessels, warned by Japan Coast Guard.
- August 4, 2025: Same Chinese ships entered near Taisho Island, approached fishing boats again, warnings issued.
- Early August 2025: Japan observed Chinese vessels continuously for a record 216 days near the Senkakus.
Politics and general news remain focused on war-and-conflicts as persistent entries of Chinese coast guard ships into Japanese territorial waters near the Senkaku Islands continue, with two such incidents reported on August 2 and August 4, 2025, near Uotsuri and Taisho Islands respectively, involving attempts to approach Japanese fishing vessels. The broader geopolitical tensions behind these incidents are rooted in China's assertion of the Senkaku Islands as Chinese territory while Japan maintains administrative control.
