Overview
- The Japan Coast Guard confirmed sightings in the contiguous zone on Dec. 30, bringing the annual total to 356 days and surpassing last year’s 355.
- Chinese vessels have appeared for 46 consecutive days, according to the 11th Regional Coast Guard in Naha.
- The contiguous zone lies just outside Japan’s 12-nautical-mile territorial sea around the uninhabited Senkaku Islands.
- The coast guard continues 24-hour monitoring as officials warn the security environment is growing more severe.
- Notable 2025 incidents included a 92-hour continuous stay inside territorial waters in March and a roughly 15-minute helicopter airspace violation in May.