On the 11th, it will be 10 years since the Senkaku Islands in Okinawa Prefecture were nationalized.


As cases of Chinese government vessels navigating contiguous waters just outside territorial waters have become normal, the Japan Coast Guard has created a full-time security system.

The Senkaku Islands are a group of islands located approximately 410 kilometers west of the main island of Okinawa, and were nationalized by the Japanese government on September 11, 2012.



Since nationalization, the number of incidents approaching the waters surrounding the Senkaku Islands, such as intrusions into territorial waters by ships of the Chinese authorities, has gradually increased, and the number of days sailing in the contiguous zone reached a record high of 333 days in 2020. ▽ In 2021

,


sailing in the contiguous zone has been confirmed for 157 consecutive days.



As of 8:00 am on the 10th, there were ▽


20 cases of intrusion into the territorial waters, and ▽


237 days of confirmation in the contiguous zone, which


is almost the same pace as the past few years.



The Japan Coast Guard has a full-time security system, and says, ``We will pay close attention to the movements of the China Coast Guard, and will continue to take all possible measures to guard the territorial waters with a sense of urgency, so as not to overlook even the slightest change.''

What are the Senkaku Islands?

The Senkaku Islands is a general term for the islands consisting of Uotsuri Island, Kitakojima Island, Minamikojima Island, Kuba Island, and Taisho Island, located about 410 kilometers west of the main island of Okinawa.



The Japanese government maintains that the Senkaku Islands are inherent territory of Japan both historically and under international law, and that there is no issue of territorial rights.

In 1895, the Japanese government made a cabinet decision to incorporate the Senkaku Islands into Japan's territory after confirming that there were no traces of other countries' control over the islands through field surveys.



According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in 1969 the Chinese government claimed its territorial rights for the first time in 1971, after a United Nations agency survey report pointed out the possibility of oil reserves in the surrounding waters.



Furthermore, in 1992, the "Territorial Sea Law" was enacted, clearly stating that the Senkaku Islands were Chinese territory.



In 2004, seven Chinese activists illegally landed on Uotsuri Island.



In 2010, a Chinese fishing boat collided with a Japan Coast Guard patrol vessel.



On September 11, 2012, the Japanese government nationalized three islands, Uotsurijima, Kitakojima, and Minamikojima, by the Japan Coast Guard in order to ensure stable maintenance and management of the Senkaku Islands.

Japan Coast Guard Full-time security system Triples the number of large patrol vessels

Since Japan nationalized the Senkaku Islands, there have been an increasing number of Chinese vessels intruding into territorial waters or navigating the contiguous zone just outside.



In 2011, the year before China was nationalized, there was one incident of Chinese authorities intruding into its territorial waters, but in


2012 there were 23 incidents, in


2013 there were 52 incidents, and since


then there have been roughly 30 incidents.

Under these circumstances, the Japan Coast Guard has created a dedicated system to guard the waters surrounding the Senkaku Islands.



Specifically, 10 newly built 1,000-ton patrol boats will be deployed on Ishigaki Island, and a full-time system of 12 vessels, including 2 helicopter-equipped large patrol boats deployed on the main island of Okinawa, will be established by 2016. arranged to



In addition, a dedicated pier where large patrol ships can anchor has been developed at Ishigaki Port to strengthen the functions of the port as a hub.



As a result of the strengthening of the system, the number of large patrol vessels deployed in Okinawa Prefecture at the end of fiscal 2012 has tripled to 21 as of April this year.

Mitsuaki Nakata, head of the Ishigaki Coast Guard Department, commented on the Chinese Coast Guard's response to ships, saying, "Previously, the Coast Guard's ships moved in a single manner, but now they move in a variety of ways. For example, If there are four ships, now two ships move at a time, and I feel that they are getting better under control.



On top of that, he said, ``As a maritime police agency, it is fundamental to respond calmly and squarely in accordance with international and domestic law. I was talking to

China's ships are getting bigger and more armed

According to the Japan Coast Guard, in 2018 the Chinese government incorporated the Coast Guard into an "armed police force" under the command of the military, which is said to have increased the military's influence.



In February 2021, the "Japan Coast Guard Law" was enacted, which allows the use of weapons against foreign ships that do not comply with orders to stop.



Regarding the background of the increasing number of days that Chinese authorities' ships are confirmed in Japan's contiguous zone, the Japan Coast Guard has announced that the number of large ships of 1,000 tons or more will increase, and it will be possible to continue sailing even in rough weather such as storms. I think it's because I became



According to the Japan Coast Guard, the number of large ships operated by the China Coast Guard increased from 40 in 2012 to 132 as of the end of December 2021, more than triple.



Under these circumstances, there is concern about the arming of ships by the Chinese authorities, and the Japan Coast Guard has confirmed several ships that are believed to be equipped with machine guns.



In addition, according to people involved, there was also a case in which a Chinese Navy ship was painted white and diverted to a Coast Guard ship.

Local fisherman: “It feels like our sea is theirs.”

Kazushi Kinjo, 50, who fishes off the coast of the Senkaku Islands, looked back over the past 10 years and said, "While fishing, the chances of encountering a Chinese government vessel were about once every two times, but gradually increased. It's 100%. It feels like our sea has become their sea."



On the other hand, two years ago, while fishing off the Senkaku Islands, a Chinese government ship approached Mr. Kinjo's ship, but no similar situation has occurred since then.



Mr. Kinjo calmly said, ``I felt very threatened at that time, but other than that, I have hardly felt threatened.''



After that, Mr. Kinjo said, ``The waters off the Senkaku Islands are the most important treasure for me, and if I can't fish there, I can't eat, so please don't escalate any further. ', and indicated his intention to continue fishing in the waters around the Senkaku Islands.



And about the frequent appearance of ships by the Chinese authorities in the surrounding waters, he said, ``I don't think it's just me alone, so I want everyone to think about this situation.''

Expert "In the future, the equipment of the Japan Coast Guard and the possibility of a large gap"

Shigeki Sakamoto, Professor Emeritus of Kobe University, who is familiar with international law, commented on the Coast Guard Law that China enacted in February last year, saying, "Article 83 of the Coast Guard Law added new duties for defense operations. The bureau has taken on two roles: a navy-like role to carry out defensive missions, and a role as a maritime law enforcement agency. It is expected, and there is a possibility that there will be a large gap with the equipment of the Japan Coast Guard."



Regarding the Japan Coast Guard, which is responsible for security in the waters surrounding the Senkaku Islands, he said, "In order to avoid unforeseen situations between Japan and China, Japan's basic policy that the Japan Coast Guard should be the primary response should be maintained." I was.