Japan and China clash over disputed East China Sea islands

A China Coast Guard vessel sails near a Japan Coast Guard vessel around a group of disputed islands (Picture credit: Reuters)

Japan and China on Tuesday exchanged conflicting claims after a maritime confrontation near disputed islands in the East China Sea, with both sides saying they forced the other's vessels to leave waters they claim as their own. Japan's coast guard said it expelled two Chinese coast guard ships that had entered waters near the disputed Senkaku Islands, known as the Diaoyu Islands in China, after they approached a Japanese fishing vessel operating in the area. The islands, located between Taiwan and Japan's Okinawa prefecture, have been at the centre of a decades-old territorial dispute between Tokyo and Beijing, with tensions frequently escalating through maritime patrols and diplomatic protests.

Japan says Chinese ships entered territorial waters

Japan's coast guard said four Chinese vessels were operating near the islands before two of them entered what Tokyo considers its territorial waters. The coast guard said it issued orders for the ships to leave and "successfully" forced them out of Japanese waters by around 9:20 am local time on Tuesday, according to news agency AFP. It added that its vessels were deployed around the Japanese fishing boat to ensure its safety, while describing the Chinese coast guard's actions as "a violation of international law." "The Japan coast guard will continue to respond calmly and resolutely in accordance with international and domestic law, and will take every possible measure to ensure the security of our territorial waters," it said. Tokyo said it was unusual for Chinese vessels to approach Japanese fishing boats, even though Chinese coast guard ships regularly patrol the disputed waters.

Beijing makes counterclaim

China, however, presented a different version of events. The Chinese coast guard said it had expelled a Japanese fishing vessel that had "illegally entered the territorial waters" near the disputed islands. "The Japanese fishing boat Zuihou Maru intruded into the territorial waters... CCG vessels took necessary measures to warn and expel it," China's coast guard said in a statement.

Dispute worsens over Taiwan tensions

The latest confrontation comes amid already strained ties between the two Asian powers. The Senkaku-Diaoyu islands have remained a major flashpoint for decades, with China routinely sending coast guard vessels into surrounding waters and Japan repeatedly protesting against what it calls Beijing's territorial incursions. Tensions have increased further since Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi made remarks in November last year, suggesting Tokyo could intervene militarily if Taiwan were attacked. Beijing strongly criticised those comments, as China considers Taiwan part of its territory and has not ruled out using force to bring the island under its control. Following the remarks, China urged its citizens to reconsider travel to Japan and imposed trade restrictions on some Japanese firms. The East China Sea region is also strategically important due to its proximity to Taiwan and possible energy reserves, making maritime encounters between Chinese and Japanese vessels a recurring security concern.