Tensions escalated in the East China Sea as China’s coast guard engaged with Japanese lawmakers in disputed waters, as reported by China’s embassy in Tokyo and Japanese media on Sunday.
The incident occurred in waters claimed by both countries near tiny, uninhabited islands known as the Diaoyu in China and the Senkaku in Japan. Chinese vessels took unspecified law enforcement measures, leading to protests from the Chinese embassy, which accused Japan of “infringement and provocation.”
The Japanese group, including former Defense Minister Tomomi Inada, was conducting an inspection mission organized by the city of Ishigaki in Okinawa prefecture. The group spent three hours near the disputed islands on Saturday, utilizing drones for observation. Japanese coast guard vessels intervened to deter the Chinese coast guard, according to NHK, Japan’s public broadcaster.
Inada emphasized the importance of the islands as sovereign Japanese territory, citing the need for research activities there. This marks the first such inspection trip involving a member of Japan’s parliament since 2013.
China urged Japan to adhere to previous agreements, cease political provocations, and avoid escalating tensions through dialogue and consultation. Japan’s foreign ministry officials were not available for immediate comment.
The maritime dispute in the East China Sea is part of broader tensions in the region, with China also facing off against the Philippine navy in the South China Sea over conflicting maritime claims.
