Chinese & Japanese Boats Clash Near Disputed Islands

Published: 02 December 2025 Tuesday. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online

In the East China Sea, tensions flared again as Chinese and Japanese coast guards reported conflicting accounts of a maritime confrontation near a cluster of geopolitically sensitive islands.

China’s Coast Guard (CCG) stated that a Japanese fishing vessel had entered waters surrounding the Diaoyu Islands — which Tokyo administers as the Senkaku Islands — without authorization. Beijing claims the islands as its own territory despite Japanese administrative control.

According to CCG spokesperson Liu Dejun, Chinese vessels approached the fishing boat to warn it off and took “necessary law enforcement measures” to safeguard what China considers its territorial waters. Liu urged Japan to immediately cease all acts of infringement and provocation in the area.

The Japan Coast Guard (JCG) presented a contrasting narrative. Officials said two Chinese Coast Guard ships approached the Japanese fishing vessel in the early hours of Tuesday, prompting the JCG to intercept and expel the Chinese ships. The Japanese authorities maintained that the patrol ensured the fishing boat’s safety until the Chinese vessels withdrew a few hours later.

This incident comes amid growing diplomatic tensions between Beijing and Tokyo. Last month, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, a known critic of China, remarked in parliament that Tokyo might consider military action should China attack Taiwan. Beijing considers Taiwan part of its territory and has not ruled out the use of force to enforce reunification.

Taiwan lies approximately 160 kilometers southwest of the Senkaku Islands, adding another layer of geopolitical sensitivity to the region. Both countries have engaged in increasingly hostile rhetoric in recent weeks, escalating concerns for citizens on both sides of the dispute.

While China and Japan agreed in principle in 2008 to jointly exploit resources in the East China Sea, tensions have only intensified in the past 15 years. The uninhabited Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands remain a focal point of these frictions, with Beijing increasingly deploying ships to assert its claims and gauge Japan’s resolve to defend the islands. In fact, last year marked a record high in both the number of Chinese government vessels sighted near the islands and the duration of their operations.

Prior to Tuesday’s incident, the CCG last entered waters around the islands on 16 November, describing the patrol as a lawful measure to uphold its rights and interests. Analysts note that such encounters, while typically non-violent, highlight the fragile balance in the East China Sea and the risk of escalation.

The dispute over the Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands underscores a broader contest for influence in the region, where territorial claims, resource access, and national security converge. Both nations face domestic and international scrutiny as they navigate a complex geopolitical landscape, balancing assertiveness with restraint.