Based on an article by Tokai University Professor Yoshihiko Yamada in the Sankei Shimbun, this article examines Chinese Coast Guard intrusions into Japanese territorial waters around the Senkaku Islands, the pursuit of Japanese fishing boats, and China’s attempt to create the appearance of administrative control in the East China Sea. It warns against China’s maritime expansion amid the coronavirus crisis and its attempt to undermine the legal basis for U.S. support under the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty.

May 23, 2020
In the East China Sea, China claims that the Senkaku Islands are not under Japan’s administration, and denies Japan’s sovereignty over them to the international community.
The following is from an article by Yoshihiko Yamada, professor at Tokai University, published in yesterday’s Sankei Shimbun under the title “Declare a State of Emergency to Protect the Senkaku Islands.”
The emphasis in the text, apart from the headline, and the notes marked with an asterisk are mine.
A state of emergency should be declared for the Senkaku Islands.
Chinese Coast Guard patrol vessels frequently enter our territorial waters and are trying to drive away Japanese fishing boats.
This is a grave situation that shakes Japan’s administration over the Senkaku Islands.
China exploiting the coronavirus crisis
China has begun to move in a major way toward maritime domination of Asia, taking advantage of the novel coronavirus crisis that has occupied the entire world.
In order to achieve that goal, it is trying to seize the Senkaku Islands.
In the South China Sea, China built artificial islands, turned them into military bases, and, after solidifying a system of effective control over the surrounding waters as well, established administrative districts making the Spratly Islands the Nansha District and the Paracel Islands the Xisha District, thereby showing both domestically and internationally that it had incorporated them under its administration.
In the East China Sea, China claims that the Senkaku Islands are not under Japan’s administration, and denies Japan’s sovereignty over them to the international community.
To that end, it persistently repeats intrusions into Japan’s territorial waters and attempts to enforce Chinese domestic law there.
On May 8, Japan Coast Guard patrol vessels detected four Chinese Coast Guard patrol vessels attempting to enter Japanese territorial waters about 12 kilometers off Uotsuri Island in the Senkaku Islands.
It was the eighth intrusion into territorial waters since the beginning of the year, and, as usual, the Japan Coast Guard took a posture of warning them and urging them to leave the territorial waters.
However, China’s aim this time was not merely to threaten the territorial waters.
Of the four vessels that entered the territorial waters, two approached Japanese fishing boats operating nearby and pursued them.
There were three fishermen from Yonaguni Island aboard the fishing boat.
Because Japan Coast Guard patrol vessels rushed to the scene, the Chinese patrol vessels left the territorial waters and the matter ended without incident, but our country’s fishermen were placed in danger.
On the following day, the 9th, two vessels again entered the territorial waters, ignored the Japan Coast Guard’s demand to leave, and remained within the territorial waters until the evening of the 10th.
Then, on the 11th, Zhao Lijian, deputy director of the Information Department of China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated at a press conference: “Because Japanese fishing boats were operating illegally in China’s territorial waters, we asked them to leave the area. We also responded resolutely to the illegal obstruction by the Japan Coast Guard. Through diplomatic channels, we requested that the Japanese side not violate China’s sovereignty.”
China’s aim is to divide Japan and the United States
China’s true aim lay in this press conference.
It declared that the Senkaku Islands are Chinese territory and are under Chinese administration.
Since the beginning of this year, Chinese patrol vessels had been appearing every day within the contiguous zone around the Senkaku Islands.
From January to April 2020, a total of 409 Chinese patrol vessels were confirmed in the territorial waters and contiguous zone around the Senkaku Islands, the largest number ever recorded for the same period.
From January onward, the Asahi Shimbun reported extensively, NHK followed, and politicians from opposition parties such as the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan made a daily uproar in the Diet over the “Cherry Blossom Viewing Party” issue.
If I point out that this was done in order to prevent the Japanese people’s attention from turning toward China’s intentions, there should not be a single person among Asahi’s editorial writers, the craftsmen who call themselves NHK anchors, or opposition party politicians who can refute it.
Now is precisely the time to thoroughly investigate all of their travel histories to China and their histories of contact with Chinese embassy officials and others.
Zhao, the deputy director, further criticized Japan, saying, “We ask Japan not to create new disputes over this issue, and to protect the stability of the situation in the East China Sea through actual actions,” and added, “The two countries should further develop their friendly and cooperative relationship by doing everything they can to deal with the novel coronavirus.”
Using the coronavirus uproar, China has begun to move in a major way toward the invasion of the Senkaku Islands.
China’s aim is to divide Japan and the United States.
If the Senkaku Islands fall into a critical situation, Japan can receive support from the United States under the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty.
American backing is effective as a deterrent against China.
However, U.S. support under the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty applies only to areas under Japan’s administration.
If an area is judged not to be under Japan’s administration, as in the case of the Northern Territories or Takeshima, U.S. support cannot be expected.
China is undermining the legal basis for the United States to support Japan.
At present, can it be stated objectively that the Senkaku Islands are under Japan’s administration?
No one is permitted to land on the Senkaku Islands, and there is no national plan for their use.
Not only survey and research activities on the islands and in the surrounding waters, but even peaceful uses such as environmental surveys, are not permitted.
The lives of citizens are being placed in danger
In the security system around the Senkaku Islands, China is already one step ahead.
The Japan Coast Guard organized a dedicated Senkaku Islands unit and strengthened security, but the Chinese Coast Guard, centered on large 5,000-ton patrol vessels, surpasses the Japan Coast Guard in strength.
Moreover, the Chinese Coast Guard has been incorporated into the Central Military Commission and has become a military organization; it is no longer an opponent that the Japan Coast Guard can handle.
However, under the current Constitution, there are many restrictions even on the Self-Defense Forces defending the islands independently.
In the South China Sea, China has resorted to the use of force, including sinking Vietnamese fishing boats in waters whose jurisdiction is disputed.
If things continue as they are, our country’s fishermen, too, will be seized and placed in mortal danger.
Both the Yonaguni Town Assembly and the Ishigaki City Assembly unanimously passed written opinions protesting against China and requesting the government to strengthen its alert posture, and they will submit them to the Prime Minister, the prefectural governor, and others.
The government should respond with concrete measures to the wishes of those who live on the remote border islands.
There is an urgent need for actions showing that the Senkaku Islands are under Japan’s administration, such as having Japanese citizens reside there permanently.
First, Japan must send a marine research vessel, conduct surveys of seabed resources and fishery resources, and clearly assert its sovereignty and administrative rights under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
There is already no time to spare.
It will be too late after territory is lost or the lives of citizens are taken.
The foolish uproar over the Public Prosecutor’s Office may appear to be nothing more than criticism of the administration, but in fact it makes perfect sense if one sees that the opposition party politicians of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, together with the Asahi Shimbun, NHK, and others, are again engaged in an operation to prevent the Japanese people’s eyes from turning toward China’s intentions.
The proof is that they do not ask even a single question in the Diet about China’s intentions and actions.
Last night, NHK, for the first time, touched only formally, probably because there had been much criticism, on China’s actions around the Senkaku Islands.
Their conduct is that of treasonists itself.