China Coast Guard formation sails through Japan-administered Senkaku Islands amid rising tensions

A formation of China Coast Guard vessels sailed through the waters around the Senkaku Islands on Sunday as part of a “rights enforcement patrol,” Beijing said, escalating tensions with Japan following controversial remarks by its prime minister regarding Taiwan.

Relations between the two countries have worsened since Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi told parliament on November 7 that a hypothetical Chinese attack on self-ruled Taiwan could prompt a military response from Tokyo. Beijing reacted sharply, demanding that Takaichi retract the comments.

China considers Taiwan part of its territory and has not ruled out using force to bring the island under its control — a claim firmly rejected by Taiwan’s government. The island lies just 110 km (68 miles) from Japanese territory.

In its statement, China said Coast Guard vessel 1307 and its formation conducted a lawful patrol in the “territorial waters of the Diaoyu Islands,” as Beijing calls the Japan-administered Senkaku chain. The two nations have long clashed in the surrounding waters.

The Japanese Embassy in Beijing did not immediately comment.

Pressure from China has intensified since Takaichi’s remarks. The Chinese Consul General in Osaka said, “The dirty head that sticks itself out must be cut off,” prompting a formal protest from Japan. Beijing also summoned the Japanese ambassador — the first such move in more than two years — while China’s defense ministry warned that any Japanese intervention on Taiwan’s behalf would “surely fail.”

On Friday, China advised its citizens to avoid travel to Japan, leading Tokyo to call on Beijing to take “appropriate measures.” Three Chinese airlines subsequently announced that tickets to Japan could be changed or refunded at no cost.

In Taiwan, the defense ministry said it detected 30 Chinese military aircraft and seven navy ships around the island in the past 24 hours. Late Saturday, it reported another Chinese “joint combat patrol” intended to “harass the airspace and sea around us.” Taiwan said it scrambled aircraft and deployed ships in response. Taipei reports such Chinese patrols multiple times a month and describes them as part of an ongoing pressure campaign.

Taiwan’s government maintains that only its people can determine the island’s future.

Japanese leaders have traditionally avoided directly addressing Taiwan when discussing regional security scenarios, adhering to a policy of “strategic ambiguity” shared by Tokyo’s main ally, the United States.