Chinese Coast Guard vessels venture into Japanese territory near the Senkaku Islands
The Senkaku Islands, a source of territorial dispute between Japan and China, have once again become a focal point of international tension. On August 2, 2023, two Chinese Haijing ships entered Japanese waters near the Senkaku Islands, according to the Japanese Coast Guard (JCG).
The incident occurred off the Senkaku Islands, specifically near Uotsuri Island in the Senkaku chain. The Japanese Coast Guard secured the safety of a Japanese fishing vessel before warning the two Haijing ships to leave the waters. The Chinese coast guard ships complied and left Japanese waters on July 11.
It is important to note that this intrusion occurred on a different island in the Senkaku chain compared to the August 2 incident. This is not the first time Chinese Haijing ships have entered Japanese waters near the Senkaku Islands. A similar incident occurred near a different island in the Senkaku chain on July 9. However, the July 9 intrusion did not involve a Japanese fishing vessel.
The Senkaku Islands, administered by Japan, are located in the East China Sea. The islands are not part of Okinawa Prefecture, but are situated in the southernmost prefecture of Japan. The incident took place at approximately 12:50 a.m., according to the JCG's 11th regional headquarters based in Naha.
The dispute over the Senkaku Islands has been ongoing and intensified since 2010. This dispute is part of a broader geopolitical rivalry, as control over the Senkaku Islands affects access to fishing rights, potential oil and gas resources, and maritime control in the East China Sea. China’s assertiveness, including coast guard operations near the islands, is seen as part of a deliberate strategic approach to assert its claims and expand influence in the region.
Japan has responded by strengthening its maritime patrols and has sought support from allies, including the United States, emphasizing the islands' importance under the US-Japan security treaty. The ongoing pattern of Chinese maritime presence near the Senkaku Islands remains a critical point of tension in Sino-Japanese relations.
[1] Sources: The Diplomat, The Japan Times, and The South China Morning Post.
- The ongoing dispute over the Senkaku Islands, a significant point of contention in Sino-Japanese relations, is a part of a broader geopolitical rivalry that includes war-and-conflicts, politics, and general news.
- The latest intrusion by Chinese Haijing ships near the Senkaku Islands in July 2023, as well as similar previous incidents, demonstrates the complex geopolitical landscape surrounding these islands, which involves issues such as access to fishing rights, potential oil and gas resources, and maritime control – matters of persistent concern in this war-and-conflicts-prone region.
