Chinese ships have been spotted near the disputed Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea for a record 158 consecutive days, raising tensions between Japan and China. The territorial dispute over the islands, known as the Senkakus in Japan and the Diaoyu in China, has been a longstanding issue between the two countries.
The presence of Chinese coast guard and other vessels in the waters surrounding the islands has been a point of contention since 2012 when Tokyo “nationalized” some of the remote islets. On Monday, Japan’s coast guard observed four China Maritime Police Bureau vessels sailing in the “contiguous” zone adjacent to Japan’s territorial sea near the island chain.
This marks the 158th consecutive day that Chinese boats have been spotted in the area, surpassing the previous record of 157 days in 2021. Japanese government spokesman Yoshimasa Hayashi described the situation as “extremely serious” and Prime Minister Fumio Kishida expressed concern over the issue during a meeting with Chinese Premier Li Qiang in Seoul.
The tensions come amidst the first trilateral summit between Japan, China, and South Korea in nearly five years, where discussions on regional security and cooperation are taking place. Despite efforts to establish a military hotline to prevent unexpected clashes in the East China Sea, the ongoing presence of Chinese ships near the disputed islands continues to strain relations between Japan and China.