In response to the Chinese Coast Guard Bureau ships recently repeatedly sailed into the waters of the Diaoyu Islands (known as the Senkaku Islands), Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Kato Katsuharu said on February 8, “It is really regrettable and absolutely intolerable.”
According to Kyodo News, Japan’s 11th District Maritime Security Headquarters (Naha) on the 6th, two Chinese Coast Guard vessels sailed into Japanese territorial waters near the Senkaku Islands (known as the Diaoyu Islands) from about 4:45 a.m. that morning. This is the first Time to enter the disputed waters after the implementation of the “Marine Police Law” that allows the Chinese Marine Police Bureau to use weapons on the 1st. The Chinese marine police ship did not use weapons and sailed away after about eight and a half hours.
The department also said on the 7th that two Chinese Coast Guard boats sailed into Japanese territorial waters near the Senkaku Islands from about 3:50 a.m. that day, and turned their bows toward a Japanese fishing boat sailing about 22 kilometers south-southeast of Taisho Island and made an attempt to approach.
In response, Kato Katsushin said on Monday that in addition to The Japanese Coast Guard repeatedly asking the Chinese vessel to move away in the sea area at the scene, the Japanese side also protested to the Chinese government through diplomatic channels. He stressed that “the vigilance and surveillance on the perimeter of the Senkaku Islands will be done without fail and respond calmly and firmly to the Chinese side.”
In addition, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said at a meeting of the House of Representatives Budget Committee on the 8th that “it is totally unacceptable to increase tensions in the East China Sea and South China Sea through the use of the Marine Police Law, which allows the Marine Police Bureau to use weapons,” on the implementation of the law.
Kan also met with Professor Yuichi Hosoya, professor of international politics at Keio University, at the Prime Minister’s residence on the 7th to listen to the views of the Chinese Maritime Police Bureau vessels sailing into the disputed waters.
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