Armed Chinese vessel enters Japanese waters amidst rising tensions

Chinese warships. (File photo)
Chinese warships. (File photo)

For the first time in modern history, a Chinese coastguard vessel, which appears to be armed, has carried out an incursion into disputed Japanese territorial waters.

The incident marks an escalation in tensions between the two Asian nations.

According to a report by the Japanese coastgard, three ships, including one which was seen to be armed with what appeared to be gun turrets entered territorial waters claimed by Japan in the East China Sea. The coastguard added that it was the first such incursion by an armed Chinese vessel in the waters off the disputed Senkaku Islands.

The Chinese vessel entered the area shortly after 9:30 a.m local time this monring, leaving some 70 minutes later, a Japan coastguard spokeswoman said. Chinese coastguard vessels sail regularly near the islets but the spokeswoman said that this was the first time an armed vessel had been spotted.

The entry of the three ships on Saturday was the 35th such incursion this year and the 139th time that Chinese government vessels have entered Japan’s waters since September 2012 said one government source.

It has been reported that when Japan’s coast guard warned the Chinese ship to leave its territorial waters, they responded by saying that the Japanese vessel was in Chinese waters and should leave immediately. 

The islands are known in China as the Diaoyus, and China claims to have discovered and owned the islands from the 14th century. Japan had ownership of the islands from 1895 until the end of World War II, after which the islands were administered by the United States before returning them to Japanese control in 1972.

Kuba Island is among East China Sea islands whose sovereignty is disputed by Japan and China and is one of the most problematic diplomatic issues between the two nations. Ships from both sides have been tailing one another in the area since 2012, when Japan bought three of the uninhabited islands from a private owner. 

On December 24th this year, Japan’s cabinet approved a record defense budget, amid China’s increasing military posturing in the region.