Overview
- Japan’s coast guard reported two Chinese patrol ships entered the 12-nautical-mile zone near the Senkaku Islands, approached a Japanese fishing boat, and left for contiguous waters after radio warnings.
- China’s coast guard said a Japanese fishing vessel illegally entered waters China claims, asserting it issued warnings and took control measures to drive the boat away.
- Japan’s account said the intruding ships were armed with autocannons, with additional heavily armed Chinese cutters operating just outside territorial waters.
- The standoff followed a similar November 16 incident and comes after Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s remarks about possible action if Taiwan were blockaded, to which China responded with steps such as canceling Japan-bound flights and discouraging travel.
- G7 foreign ministers recently reiterated opposition to unilateral changes to the status quo in the East China Sea, while the United States has said the security treaty with Japan covers the Japan-administered islets.