Escalation near Senkaku Islands heightens before key talks
Two Chinese coast guard vessels entered Japanese territorial waters near the disputed Senkaku Islands, escalating tensions just before a meeting of diplomats from Japan, South Korea, and China.
Two Chinese coast guard ships breached Japanese territorial waters near the Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea on Friday, according to the Japan Coast Guard. The incursion occurred a day before a scheduled meeting of the foreign ministers of Japan, South Korea, and China in Tokyo.
The 11th Regional Headquarters of the Japan Coast Guard, based in Naha, reported that the Chinese vessels entered territorial waters near Minami-Kojima Island, which is part of the Senkaku archipelago, just before 2 AM local time on Friday. Both vessels were armed with guns, as highlighted by the Japanese broadcaster NHK.
The Japan Coast Guard urged the Chinese vessels to leave the area immediately and continues to monitor the situation. The Japan News y noted that a similar incident occurred on 14 March.
Diplomats' meeting in Tokyo
On Saturday, a meeting of the foreign ministers of Japan, China, and South Korea will be held in Tokyo. Takeshi Iwaya, Wang Yi, and Cho Tae-yong are expected to discuss trilateral economic cooperation, cultural exchanges, and regional and international issues. The most recent meeting occurred in November 2023 in Busan.
Beijing and Tokyo have long disputed the uninhabited Senkaku Islands, situated in the East China Sea. Taiwan also asserts a claim to them. The islands are under Japanese control, which considers them an integral part of its territory. Japan regularly reports the presence of Chinese vessels in the area. In 2024, Chinese vessels were present for a record 353 days, with 39 instances of incursions into Japanese territorial waters documented.
