Chinese Coast Guard vessels intrude Japanese waters near the Senkaku Islands
Repeated Incursions of Chinese Coast Guard Ships into Japanese Territorial Waters Around the Senkaku Islands
On Monday, August 4, 2023, Chinese coast guard ships intruded into Japanese territorial waters off the Senkaku Islands in Okinawa Prefecture. This incident was reported by the 11th Regional Coast Guard Headquarters in Naha, Okinawa.
The Senkaku Islands, a group of uninhabited islets in the southernmost Japan prefecture, have been a frequent source of tension in the East China Sea. Known as Diaoyu Islands in China, these Japanese-administered islands have been the scene of repeated incursions by Chinese coast guard ships since August 4, 2021.
The intrusion on Monday took place around 12:20 a.m. off Taisho Island, one of the Senkaku Islands. The Haijing fleet, part of China's coast guard, was identified as the group responsible for this latest incursion. It is worth noting that this is not the first time these specific Haijing ships have made similar moves in the waters around the Senkaku Islands.
The pattern of repeated Chinese coast guard presence in the vicinity aligns with broader Chinese strategies of asserting historical claims and applying incremental pressure in disputed maritime areas. This behavior is part of a "salami slicing" approach to territorial expansion, a tactic that involves making small, incremental advances towards a larger goal.
While the exact frequency of these incursions since August 2021 is not detailed in the search results, the pattern of repeated Chinese coast guard presence in the vicinity is well documented. It is, therefore, accurate to conclude that since at least August 2021, there have been multiple incursions of Chinese coast guard ships into waters Japan considers its territorial zone around the Senkaku Islands.
These repeated incursions have raised concerns about the escalation of tensions in the region and the potential for conflict. Both Japan and China have pledged to maintain peace and stability in the East China Sea, but the ongoing disputes over the Senkaku Islands continue to pose a significant challenge to these efforts.
[1] Source: Various news reports and official statements from the Japanese Coast Guard and Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
- The ongoing disputes over the Senkaku Islands, a frequent source of tension in the East China Sea, are rooted in the region's politics and general news, as they involve repeated incursions by Chinese coast guard ships into Japanese territorial waters since August 2021.
- These recurring incursions, part of a "salami slicing" approach to territorial expansion, have heightened concerns about war-and-conflicts in the East China Sea, especially as Japan and China both strive to maintain peace and stability in the region.
