China’s Coast Guard Patrols Disputed Senkaku Islands: What It Means for Japan-China Relations

On February 10, the Chinese Coast Guard deployed a vessel to patrol the Senkaku Islands, a region at the heart of an ongoing territorial dispute with Japan.

The Chinese Coast Guard announced via social media that their 2503 patrol fleet conducted operations within what they claim as Diaoyu Dao territorial waters. They described it as a lawful patrol activity to safeguard their asserted rights.

The Senkaku Islands, currently under Japanese administration, remain a flashpoint between China and Japan, with both nations asserting sovereignty over the territory.

China reported an unprecedented 357 days of patrols in the Senkaku area last year, maintaining an almost daily presence of Coast Guard vessels in the region.

Beijing has consistently publicized its patrol activities as a means of asserting its territorial claims, particularly in response to Japanese actions or statements that China perceives as challenging its so-called “core interests.”

This latest patrol follows the Liberal Democratic Party’s landslide victory in Japan’s House of Representatives elections on February 8, led by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.

China has intensified its aggressive posturing since Takaichi’s November remarks suggesting potential intervention in Taiwan. However, the recent electoral triumph has bolstered Takaichi’s political standing, prompting heightened tensions from Beijing.

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Kim Ye-rin (yey@yna.co.kr)