Chase the mysterious Chinese ship! Nov 14 19:38

“Oh, what ’s that ship, that idiot…”
I hurriedly turned the camera. Without knowing that it would be the beginning of the follow-up over the latter half of the year ... the ship that berthed at the northern port had a "Five Star Red Flag" fluttering. (Niigata Broadcasting Press reporter Tatsuya Yamashita)

The beginning of tracking

April 15th. It was a cloudy morning just like Niigata. I was originally interested in marine development and maritime security, and I had visited Niigata Port if I had time to start the interview.

Niigata Port is the largest logistics base on the Sea of ​​Japan side of Honshu. It is one of the "open port 5 ports" (Yokohama, Kobe, Hakodate, Nagasaki, Niigata) from the end of the Edo period to the first year of the Meiji era.

8:30 am A jet high-speed ship linking Niigata and Sado passed in front.

At that time, a large orange hull approached slowly from the Sea of ​​Japan at the end of the port. And berthing.

At the center of the ship was a structure like a tower, and on the bridge there was a spherical device that appeared to have an advanced communication function. It's an unfamiliar form ... Where did it come from?

I had a camera that I usually carry with me. Zoom.

Character of “Marine Geology No. 10”.

But ... this kind of kanji font feels strange. Point the camera at the stern. There ...

The five-star red flag ... This is the Chinese flag.
“Well, China?”

Why is a “public ship” in China! ?

On the spot, "Ocean Geology No. 10" is examined on the Internet.

Affiliation is “Natural Resources Department China Geological Survey Bureau Guangzhou Marine Geological Survey Bureau”
In other words, what is the “national ship” of the Chinese state?

An oceanographic survey ship built two years ago with a total length of 75.8m and a drainage tonnage of 3400t.

According to an article by the Chinese media “People's Network”, it is said to be a state-of-the-art research ship with high drilling and exploration capabilities and capable of conducting marine geological survey activities in all sea areas of the world.

Why such a public ship is in Niigata Port ...

Speaking of research vessels in China, the government often protests every time they see activities as “surveys” in exclusive economic zones such as off the Senkaku Islands in Okinawa Prefecture. Why do survey ships enter Japan's harbors imposingly?

At that time, the authorities!

I decided to watch the ship for a while.

9:30 am Several cars appeared on the pier at No. 1 Wharf in Niigata West Port, where the research ship berthed. About 30 people got out of the car and boarded one after another. Who is it?

Turn the camera and zoom. That is ... Japan Coast Guard uniform. No way, searching for something.

11:30 am The officers of the Japan Coast Guard who went in got off the ship. It seems that the ship's structure and facilities were confirmed, but there was no flashy movement and it left the port.

"I have never seen it"

Has this ship ever entered the harbor? First, I talked to the people around me. However, as far as I heard, no one said “I saw it before”.

This is not clear. I called the official.

“N, why do you know the entry?”

The reaction of being asked something unexpected. Yeah, I knew anything, but I was witnessing it. Try pushing it a little stronger.

Then, it was said that not only the Japan Coast Guard, but also the customs and immigration officials entered the area. Ask if they are looking for something.

"No, no, that's not the case. In the police, it's basically like a job question."

In other words, isn't there any suspicion? I couldn't draw any more stories.

Then I decided to go to see if there was any movement in the research ship every morning and night. Although there was no movement for a while, the ship quietly left Niigata Port at 9:30 am on the 18th, three days later.

Mysterious route

Where did the ship go? At such times, there are essential tools for modern journalists. One of them is “Marine Traffic”.

Collects location information data sent by ships. Based on that, it is an overseas site that discloses the operation route. Using this to trace the wake, it was found that the Marine Geology No. 10 went straight to Guangzhou, China.

Guangzhou is the home port of the research ship. Is it that you have already finished your purpose and returned?

Wait a minute, so what did you do before you came to Niigata Port? Looking back at Marine Traffic again, I left Guangzhou and entered Niigata Port. There is no appearance of doing something on the way.

When that happens, we have just made a round trip between Guangzhou and Niigata Port. Since it is a research ship, it is difficult to think of sending people or carrying any materials.

This is incomprehensible ... what is the purpose?

The real destination is "Akita"

Is there a clue to find the purpose somewhere? In order to enter the port, permission should be required. Then, if you are a “ship agent” acting on behalf of a license application procedure, you know something.

List of distributors in Niigata Prefecture on the Internet and phone book. I decided to hit the conspicuous part from one end. This is the method we call “Operation Roller”.

Although it hits the agency by diving, it is just a suspicious face. Is this impossible?

However, I reached a third agency. “I think the ship is probably home.”

The managing director of this company who responded was a confused face. Anyway, get a clue here. The person in charge will return in the evening, so I decided to wait until then.

Around 5pm, the person in charge returned. He, who was wearing a work like drawing a straightforward picture, felt that he had never been interviewed before. When I told the purpose of the interview, I had you cooperate with the contents that had already been submitted to the authorities, and within the safe range. I found out that:

・ The destination of “Ocean Geology No. 10” is off Akita Prefecture ・ It was supposed to be excavated offshore ・ But suddenly the business was canceled and it was decided to return to China

Did you intend to do some kind of survey with excavation? “I don't know” about the specific contents of the project.

Anyway, why is the ship going to Akita going to Niigata Port?

“That's right, because Niigata is a large port, so you can go through immigration and customs procedures all at once.”

Indeed, Niigata Port was only a transit point. The target is Akita!

Is that business promoted by the country?

(1) From April, (2) Off the coast of Akita Prefecture, (3) Projects requiring excavation.

Considering these three conditions, a certain business emerges.

“Offshore wind power generation business”.

After the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, it has attracted attention as “clean energy”. Legislation has progressed over the past few years, and in April a new law was enacted.

・ Designated sea area `` promotion area '' where the country focuses on offshore wind power generation ・ Businesses selected by bidding can use offshore wind power for up to 30 years using the designated sea area

In short, it enables new businesses to enter by enabling long-term use of the sea area. In other words, this is an energy policy that the country is actively promoting.

In particular, off the coast of Akita Prefecture, one of the largest projects in the country was planned and multiple projects were being developed.

Does it mean that the strong winds of the Sea of ​​Japan blowing in winter will be turned into energy? A large domestic business promoted by the government. There was a question about why the Chinese research ship was there.

This is it!

Pick up offshore wind power generation project planned off the coast of Akita Prefecture. 6 places in total. Where is the survey conducted from April?

“Environmental impact assessments” are already underway in Yurihonjo City and around Noshiro City. I don't know if there is a relationship, but I put a star on it with the hope of Ichiru.

At such times, the best way to look at the contents of the business and to have the materials is a civil organization that is opposed to the business because of concerns about the impact on the environment and health.

When I looked for it, there was a civil society in Yurihonjo City. Contact us immediately by phone.

"Oh, isn't it about that?"

Oh, did you suddenly win this time?

What they had was a schedule of projects planned off Yurihonjo City. It was distributed by business operators for residents. I was sent immediately.

This is it! In fact, it was stated that "Ocean Bowling" would be held from "April to around October". In other words, “digging with a research ship” is necessary.

The business plan was distributed to an energy development company in Tokyo (assuming it was company A). The offshore wind power generation business is a joint company consisting of several companies (named A '), which is one of them.

If you hit here, you may understand the relationship with the Chinese research ship.

Three conditions were met: “From April”, “Okita Prefecture offshore” and “Survey with excavation”. However, this project has not been finalized. And if that's the case, will you answer easily ...?

Do you use foreign research vessels?

First, let's harden around. In the first place, are research vessels from other countries used for marine research conducted in Japanese territorial waters?

At such times, it would be an “industry group”. The “Japan Wind Power Association” is a general incorporated association created by companies related to wind power generation. Immediately take an appointment and go to Tokyo. Senior Managing Director Jun Nakamura responded.

“Actually, a Chinese research ship…”

eh! Nakamura was surprised.
"Is it a Chinese research ship? I don't know, but it's no wonder that overseas research ships participate in a Japanese offshore wind power project."

This time it was amazing. According to Mr. Nakamura, there is actually a shortage of research vessels in Japan due to the boom in offshore wind power generation. In addition, he pointed out that there are issues in the industry, such as the high cost of Japanese research vessels.

However, Mr. Nakamura had never heard of a Chinese research ship. There is a shortage of research vessels due to important projects promoted by the country. To that end, Chinese research ships will come in. In that case, what about security?

"I'm going to get it."

If you come to this point, I want to make it somehow. I summarized the interviews and reported them to my boss's desk.

“It ’s interesting. But what about the testimony?”
That's right. Neither the core testimony nor the material, that is, the material, is available yet.

It is only after you get it that you get close to the nature of the problem. It's often said that it's a symbol of a desk clutter, but it's a must if you want to report on it. There is a lot of newsletter among reporters saying that the story was visible, but eventually it wasn't filled. The reason is that the stuff wasn't removed.

Will it be one of those stories as it is? Can you break through somehow ... At that time, what I was waiting for came out.

Get “Butsu”! However…

"Information Disclosure Request"
It is a technique for obtaining official documents held by government agencies. When conducting research reports, no, it is a basic technique that is common to the world for other journalists.

There are also drawbacks. It takes time to release, and even if it is released, it may be “blacked” for personal information protection, etc., so that it seems arbitrary.

In fact, at the beginning of this interview, I filed a claim with the port office in Niigata Prefecture that manages the port. The targets were “entry / departure notification” and “application for use of quay”. When a ship enters the port, it must be taken out, and it was submitted by a ship agency that had previously been interviewed.

Immediately after receiving a report that it would be disclosed, I flew to the port office.

I waited for it ... it was exactly what I expected.
"Hooray!"

Only the captain's name is black. Almost fully open. I felt like jumping up, but I read the port office carefully so that I couldn't see the excitement of my heart.

The ship's name, nationality, basic ship information, shipowner's information, port entry information, etc. are all written. Without a doubt, this is a public ship of China's “Guangzhou Ocean Geological Survey”.
In the “Destination Port” column, “AKITA” was written.
This confirms that the Marine Geology No. 10 should have headed to Akita.

Alright, who called this ship to Japan?
If you look at the "Operator name" column ... that's not the company A listed in the materials we received from Akita citizen groups.

What was there was the name of another company. Looking from the company name, it was a Tokyo company (named Company B) with its headquarters in the Netherlands, and neither Company A nor Company A 'showed a superficial relationship.

Hmm, was Yurihonjo City a loser? Or is there any relationship between Company A or Company A 'and Company B?

It seems like it has advanced, it has returned to the beginning ... However, as the feel of the interview so far, I definitely thought that this was a powerful document.

Get into Akita

Yurihonjo City, Akita Prefecture, 230 km north of Niigata.
I am from Kansai and have no intuition.

You can't go back to your desk by hand, just before you go to the desk. Only anxiety precedes. Anyway, the reason I decided to go to Akita is because of the “ground-up”. (When a reporter uses his feet to listen to a story and walk around, it is called a ground-care.)

Local understanding should be indispensable for offshore wind power projects.

The fishermen and builders, especially more or less affected, may have heard more details.

The second day of my interview in Akita. The name of a fishermen's executive who has been the local “coordinator” of the business has emerged. Since I only knew the name, I searched using "Pon at Address", a site with a free service that allows me to check phone numbers and addresses from names. I won a win from several people.

OK, let's go see you. When this was a game, a reassuring ally accompanied us. Director Tetsuro Igarashi. He has received numerous awards for the NHK Special “Document“ Export Weapons ”and is a mid-career in the 13th year with extensive experience in this type of coverage. From my third year, I am a big senior.

What technique does he use, who is tall and long-haired and has a different atmosphere in the interview director? I watched with a spit.

“I ’m sorry. I ’m NHK, but I ’m interviewing.”
Oh, that's all right.

When I followed with Dogimagi whether it was okay, a strong man like a man in the sea invited me with a smile, “Yes!

Well, straight attack, strength.

A man who says “Because this is the first time I have been interviewing TV. After that, it was excited by local topics.

I want to cut out the core part quickly. However, if I want to go forward, Igarashi's director says “I'm not yet”. I messed up. Over time, men started talking about wind power generation. Director Igarashi nods with his eyes.

now. “I ’m talking about offshore wind power…”

"That's right. That is a really important facility for the future."

The man said he would finally take advantage of offshore wind power. And the man knew about the research ship "Marine Geology No. 10."

According to the original schedule, he came to Akita on April 16, and the man was going to see the survey ship that day.

Furthermore, it was found that Company A 'had commissioned Company B to conduct a preliminary ocean ground survey. Yes, there was a relationship. Connected, finally the dots connected to the line!

Why did you use a Chinese ship?

It's time to go directly to the Chinese ship side. We interviewed company B, headquartered in the Netherlands, over the phone.

When I asked why I used a Chinese ship, I got a clear answer.

“That ’s because we usually have a track record of doing business.”

It is said that it conducts ocean surveys throughout Asia, particularly in Singapore.

“This time, I brought it for the sake of shipping, but I think foreign ships, including Akita and Niigata, will continue to enter.”

I accidentally contacted Company A during a “ground-up” interview in Yurihonjo City. After that, the spokespersons visited the Niigata Broadcasting Station and met there.

The other party spoke about the significance of this project. But that's not what we want to know.

When I cut out, “It was a ship that was supposed to conduct an oceanographic survey ...”, it was impossible to answer on the spot. He then negotiated further and got written responses later. The following is revealed.

・ We commissioned an outsourcing contractor (company B), but have not specifically specified the ship to be used for the survey.
・ Schedules were forced to change due to changes in external conditions, etc., and part of the survey plan was postponed.
・ Reported postponement of the survey to the Japan Coast Guard and local governments.

To summarize the story of the two companies, although it was clear that they were using a Chinese research ship, there was no particular intention. Certainly, it does not violate the law.

When conducting marine surveys in Japanese territorial waters,
・ When dealing with areas designated as harbors, the “Port Law”
・ When dealing with environmental conservation areas, the Natural Environment Conservation Law
These apply.

For this reason, permission from the national or local government is required to conduct research activities. However, there are no laws that regulate most waters in the territorial waters. If the report is accepted, foreign ships can conduct legal investigations.

“I have never heard of it in Japanese territorial waters.”

However, security concerns remain. I visited a security expert.

Dr. Oji Ohara, senior researcher at the Sasakawa Peace Foundation, was surprised at the beginning of the opening that "I have never heard of a Chinese research ship operating in Japan's territorial waters."

Normally, a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) should be exchanged between a company and a Chinese geological survey bureau that has a research ship.

Nevertheless, he pointed out that `` the ocean survey will be able to obtain information on the seabed that requires a submarine, and that the latest research vessel in China will enter Japan's territorial waters. '' did.

On the other hand, he indicated that when a private company uses a foreign research ship in accordance with the law, it cannot be stopped because it is a foreign ship.

“On a commercial basis, the investigation is not illegal. The Japanese government cannot control what is not illegal.”

In other words, something happened this time that Japanese legal and institutional frameworks did not expect. If for some reason it was not postponed, a survey by a Chinese public ship was carried out off Akita Prefecture. And even if the survey is realized in the future, there is nothing wrong with it.

Ships connected to the Chinese government

As in Japan, I also spoke with Professor Peter Dutton of the Naval University and Naval War Research Center, who is cautious about China's marine advance.

Prof. Dutton said about the Chinese research ship:
“The data collected for marine resources purposes and the data collected for security purposes are often essentially the same data. Difficult to distinguish because they are used for different purposes. It is difficult to understand why the survey is aimed at. "

“There's a“ credit ”problem. Just because you've signed a confidentiality agreement, whether you think that one piece of paper perforation is conserving information. I feel connected to the government, so I can't feel doubtful. ''

He said that if there is a security risk, it should be considered to require permission for ships wishing to conduct commercial and scientific investigations.

What remained at the end of the chase ... doubt

Half a year's pursuit emerged from the fact that if there were no procedural traps, it would be possible to conduct oceanographic surveys on ships in any country in Japan's territorial waters.

There was also movement in the country. The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism notified operators and others to promptly notify the country of the content, structure, and method of the survey in order to obtain offshore data for the installation of offshore wind power generation. .

The Japan Coast Guard also requested the Japan Coast Guard Headquarters nationwide to share information, such as contacting the security department in charge of security when a foreign vessel reported a survey in the waters surrounding Japan.

In the future, it may be necessary to consider the creation of a mechanism that can deal with the problems of research ships legally.

And the suspicion that can't be wiped out never leaves my head. This is why the investigation by Chinese ships was suddenly canceled.

A man from a fishermen's co-op told the interview, “Because we decided in the country, China should not be used at all.

On the other hand, Company B says, “The survey was canceled for the convenience of the employer, but the reason cannot be answered.”

Company A, the employer, replied, “Schedules were forced to change due to changes in external conditions, and some of the survey plans were postponed.”

What is the “change in external conditions” that changes the schedule of a major project? However, he replied, “There is no particular exchange with the government regarding the postponement of part of the investigation.”

However, when I arrived at Niigata Port ...

And above all, what was the intention of the Chinese side?

This follow-up interview for six months. But the real beginning may be from here.

Niigata Broadcasting Station Nagaoka Branch Reporter Tatsuya Yamashita Covered in 2017 such as nuclear power plant, disaster prevention, agriculture, maritime affairs. Enthusiasm for coverage of the port, longing for the sea.