Tensions have flared once again in the East China Sea, as China’s coast guard confronted Japanese lawmakers in the disputed waters.
Overview
The incident occurred near the Diaoyu Islands, which Japan recognises as the Senkaku Islands, sparking concerns over maritime security.
The Japanese delegation, led by former Defence Minister Tomomi Inada, was on an inspection mission organised by Ishigaki City in Okinawa Prefecture. The group, equipped with drones, spent several hours observing the area while the Japanese coast guard attempted to deter the Chinese coast guard.
Inada, a senior official of Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party, emphasised the importance of asserting Japan’s territorial claims. Despite the diplomatic complexities, she stressed the need for research activities on what Japan considers its sovereign territory. This marked the first such inspection involving a member of Japan’s parliament since 2013, indicating heightened concerns over security in the region.
According to reports, Chinese vessels took unspecified law enforcement actions, prompting Japan to lodge complaints over what it deemed “infringement and provocation.”
China’s coast guard confronted Japanese lawmakers in disputed East China Sea area, NHK reported on Sunday.
— Hanako Montgomery (@HanakoMontgome1) April 29, 2024
5 Diet members were visiting waters around the tiny, uninhabited islands that Beijing calls the Diaoyu and Tokyo calls the Senkaku.
PC: 石垣市役所https://t.co/39uchilJqL pic.twitter.com/HEoQgdu3LH
Statement from China
In a statement on Monday, the Embassy of China in Tokyo said that “the Diaoyu Islands and their affiliated islands are China’s inherent territory, and China is unwavering in its determination and will to safeguard its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests.”
In response to Japan’s “infringement and provocation,” China said it has “lodged stern representations with Japan” and that the Chinese coast guard ship took “rights protection and law enforcement measures against it in accordance with the law.”
Beijing also urged its neighbour to “abide by the spirit of the four-point principled consensus between China and Japan, stop all political provocations, on-site troubles and public opinion hype, return to the right track of properly managing conflicts and differences through dialogue and consultation, and avoid further escalation of the situation.”
This excursion reignited longstanding disputes over the sovereignty of the islands, which have been a focal point of tension between Japan and China.