Japan wary of Chinese intrusions 5 years after Senkaku nationalization

September 10, 2017

TOKYO- With Monday to mark the fifth anniversary of Japan's nationalization of some of the Senkaku islands in its southernmost prefecture of Okinawa, Tokyo is wary of routine intrusions of Chinese government ships into Japanese waters around the East China Sea islands.

Beijing appears to be working to accumulate accomplished facts supporting its territorial claim to the uninhibited isles, called Diaoyu in China, observers said.

"We are seriously concerned and will respond in a calm and resolute manner," Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told a press conference on Friday.

Chinese government ships' territorial intrusions around the Senkaku islands rapidly increased just after the nationalization by Japan. The Chinese intrusion is now an almost regular event, although its frequency has been reduced.

In August 2016, some 200 to 300 Chinese fishing boats rushed in waters near the islands, followed by Chinese government ships' repeated intrusions into Japanese waters.

In May this year, what appeared to be a Chinese drone was spotted around the islands. State-run Chinese television later broadcast images of the islands that are believed to have been taken at the time, in a program to introduce achievements of President Xi Jinping.

In November 2013, China declared its air defense identification zone over the East China Sea, including the Senkaku islands. In fiscal 2016, which ended last March, Japanese Self-Defense Forces aircraft were scrambled a record 851 times in response to Chinese fighters approaching Japanese airspace.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Xi agreed to reduce tensions over the islands, at their first summit in November 2014. The two governments resumed talks on a communication mechanism to prevent unintended clashes around the islands in January 2015, after two and a half years of suspension. But there is no sign that the two countries reach an accord in the talks. Jiji Press