China’s Coast Guard has confirmed that it took “necessary measures” to warn and expel a Japanese fishing vessel that allegedly entered waters around the disputed Diaoyu Dao islands, escalating already sensitive maritime tensions between both countries.
According to a statement by China Coast Guard spokesperson Jiang Lue on Tuesday, the vessel identified as Tsurumaru intruded into what China describes as its territorial waters surrounding the Diaoyu Dao and affiliated islands.
The spokesperson stated that Coast Guard ships responded to the incident in accordance with the law, carrying out what it described as warning and expulsion operations.
“Diaoyu Dao and its affiliated islands are China’s inherent territory,” Jiang said, adding that the operations were conducted to safeguard national sovereignty and maritime rights.
He also urged Japan to “immediately stop all rights violations and provocative acts” in the contested waters.
China further reaffirmed that its Coast Guard will continue routine patrols and enforcement operations around the area, stressing its commitment to defending what it calls territorial integrity and maritime interests.
The Diaoyu Dao islands, known in Japan as the Senkaku Islands, remain a long-standing point of diplomatic dispute between both nations, with frequent patrols and occasional confrontations reported in the surrounding waters.