Japan: "Chinese Coast Guard Ships Intrude Senkaku Territorial Waters for Two Consecutive Days"

▲View of the Senkaku Islands, which Japan claims as its territory

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Jae-hee] The Japan Coast Guard announced that Chinese Coast Guard vessels have intruded into the territorial waters near the Senkaku Islands (Chinese name Diaoyutai Islands) for two consecutive days until the 7th.

On the day, Kyodo News cited the 11th Regional Coast Guard Headquarters of the Japan Coast Guard, reporting that two Chinese Coast Guard vessels entered the territorial waters near the Senkaku Islands at around 3:50 a.m. and showed movements approaching one Japanese fishing vessel.

The Japan Coast Guard patrol vessels secured the safety of the Japanese fishing vessel and demanded that the Chinese Coast Guard vessels leave the territorial waters. The Chinese Coast Guard vessels exited to the contiguous zone outside the territorial waters at around 9:10 a.m. that day.

The Coast Guard had announced the previous day that two Chinese Coast Guard vessels intruded into Japan's territorial waters near the Senkaku Islands for the first time since the enforcement of the Coast Guard Law.

The Chinese Coast Guard Law, which came into effect on the 1st, stipulates that "all necessary measures, including the use of weapons," can be taken against foreign vessels infringing on China's sovereignty and jurisdiction at sea.

The Senkaku Islands, which belong to Okinawa Prefecture under Japanese administrative divisions, are a disputed territory between the two countries.

Japan appears to be on high alert, viewing the Coast Guard Law permitting the use of weapons by Coast Guard vessels as targeting the Senkaku Islands.

Since China's declaration of nationalization of the Senkaku Islands in September 2012, China has been frequently sending government vessels into the waters around the Senkaku Islands as a means to undermine Japan's effective control, leading to ongoing confrontations.