On October 17, 2024, China's coastguard ordered a Japanese fishing vessel to vacate what it claims as its territorial waters surrounding the Diaoyu Islands, known as the Senkaku Islands in Japan. A spokesperson for the coastguard stated that the vessel had entered the area illegally and that necessary control measures were taken, including warnings and expulsion.
China has urged Japan to cease all activities in these disputed waters. Japan, which contests China's claims over the uninhabited islands believed to hold undersea oil and gas reserves, has not yet responded to this latest incident.
The tensions between the two nations have escalated in recent months, with several confrontations reported. In April, Chinese coastguard vessels confronted Japanese lawmakers conducting an inspection near the islands, which China labeled as an act of provocation. Additionally, Japan lodged a protest in June regarding Chinese vessels appearing to carry armaments into the waters it claims as its own.
Further complicating the regional stability, China's assertive posture concerning Taiwan has raised alarms in Japan, particularly with increased military activity near the self-governing island. The situation in the South China Sea, where China has overlapping claims with several Southeast Asian nations, has also seen heightened tensions, particularly with the Philippines.