It has been a total of 322 days since the beginning of this year that Chinese Coast Guard vessels have been observed navigating in the contiguous zone outside the territorial waters surrounding the Senkaku Islands (Ishigaki City, Okinawa Prefecture), the highest number ever since the Senkaku Islands were nationalized in 2012. It was revealed on the 28th that the number is trending at a faster pace than last year when it was updated. Seishiro Sakamoto, chief of the 11th Regional Coast Guard Headquarters (Naha), made the announcement at a regular press conference on the same day.

The number of trips to the contiguous zone by ships operated by Chinese authorities has increased rapidly since the Senkaku nationalization, and has exceeded 300 days a year since 2020. Last year was a total of 352 days, the highest ever. As of the 28th, there were 36 cases of intrusions into territorial waters, which has already exceeded the 34 cases in the whole of last year.

At the press conference, Chief Sakamoto acknowledged that the Chinese Coast Guard’s ships “remain in a difficult situation, with activities becoming normal,” and added, “We are keeping a high level of tension regarding trends so as not to overlook even the slightest change.” We will carry out surveillance and vigilance using these weapons and take all possible precautions to protect our territorial waters.”