Japan says it drove away Chinese coast guard vessels near disputed islands

Japan on Tuesday said its coast guard forced two Chinese coast guard vessels to leave waters around the disputed Senkaku Islands after the ships reportedly approached a Japanese fishing boat operating in the area.

According to Japanese authorities, the vessels entered what Tokyo considers its territorial waters before coast guard officers ordered them to withdraw. Officials said the Chinese ships had left the area by about 9:20 a.m. local time after the warning.

The Japanese Coast Guard said it also deployed patrol vessels to protect the fishing boat while the incident unfolded, adding that four Chinese coast guard ships had been operating near the islands before two crossed into the disputed waters.

Tokyo described the incursion as a violation of international law and reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding what it considers its territorial waters.

“The Japan Coast Guard will continue to respond calmly and firmly in accordance with international and domestic law and take every possible measure to ensure the security of our territorial waters,” the agency said in a statement.

The uninhabited islands, known as the Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China, are administered by Tokyo but also claimed by Beijing. The territorial dispute has remained a major source of friction between the two Asian powers for decades.

Chinese coast guard vessels frequently patrol waters around the islands, leading to repeated confrontations with Japanese maritime authorities. However, Japanese officials noted that it is uncommon for Chinese ships to move toward Japanese fishing vessels operating in the area.

The East China Sea, where the islands are located, is also believed to contain significant energy resources, adding to its strategic importance.

Relations between Tokyo and Beijing have become increasingly strained in recent months following remarks by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi regarding Taiwan.

In November, Takaichi suggested Japan could respond militarily if Taiwan came under attack, comments that drew sharp criticism from Beijing. China, which considers the self-governed island part of its territory, has repeatedly vowed to reunify Taiwan with the mainland and has not ruled out the use of force.

Following the remarks, Beijing condemned Japan’s position, advised Chinese citizens to exercise caution when travelling to Japan and imposed tighter trade restrictions on some Japanese companies.