China Coast Guard ship formation sails via Japan-administered Senkaku Islands

[ad_1] Chinese language Coast Guard ships sail via Japan-administered islands Tensions rose after Japanese prime minister commented on Taiwan Earlier Japanese leaders maintained 'strategic ambiguity' over coming to Taiwan's defence BEIJING, Nov 16 (Reuters) - A China Coast Guard ship formation handed via the waters of the Senkaku Islands on Sunday on a "rights enforcement patrol", the China Coast Guard stated in a press release, as Beijing ramps up tensions with Japan over its prime minister's remarks on Taiwan.

A diplomatic spat between China and Japan has intensified since Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi instructed parliament on November 7 {that a} hypothetical Chinese language assault on democratically-ruled Taiwan may set off a army response from Tokyo. Join <a data-testid="Link" referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade" href="https://www.reuters.com/world/china/china-coast-guard-ship-formation-sails-through-japan-administered-senkaku-2025-11-16/undefined?location=article-paragraph&redirectUrl=%2Fworld%2Fchina%2Fchina-coast-guard-ship-formation-sails-through-japan-administered-senkaku-2025-11-16%2F" class="text-module__text__0GDob text-module__inherit-color__PhuPF text-module__inherit-font__1P1hv text-module__inherit-size__EyiQW link-module__link__INqxZ link-module__underline_default__-okuC">here.

The remarks sparked an offended response from Beijing, which has signalled that it expects Takaichi to retract them in some style.

China claims Taiwan as its personal territory and has not dominated out the usage of power to take management of the island, which sits simply 110 km (68.35 miles) from Japanese territory. Taiwan's authorities rejects Beijing's sovereignty claims.

"China Coast Guard vessel 1307 formation carried out patrols throughout the territorial waters of the Diaoyu Islands. This was a lawful patrol operation carried out by the China Coast Guard to uphold its rights and pursuits," the assertion stated.

China and Japan have repeatedly confronted off across the Japan-administered islands, which Beijing calls Diaoyu and Tokyo calls the Senkaku.

The Japanese Embassy in Beijing didn't instantly reply to a request for remark.

Japan has been going through mounting strain from China since Takaichi made her remarks, with China’s Consul Normal in Osaka commenting: "The soiled head that sticks itself out have to be reduce off," prompting a formal protest from Tokyo. Beijing then summoned the Japanese ambassador for the primary time in additional than two years, and China's defence ministry declared that any Japanese intervention can be doomed to fail.

On Friday, China <a data-testid="Link" target="_blank" referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade" href="https://www.reuters.com/world/china/china-coast-guard-ship-formation-sails-through-japan-administered-senkaku-2025-11-16/M1L1N3WQ044" rel="noopener" class="text-module__text__0GDob text-module__inherit-color__PhuPF text-module__inherit-font__1P1hv text-module__inherit-size__EyiQW link-module__link__INqxZ link-module__underline_default__-okuC link-module__with-icon__qlg76">cautioned , opens new tab its residents towards travelling to Japan, prompting Tokyo to induce Beijing to take "applicable measures" although it didn't elaborate. Three Chinese language airways stated on Saturday that tickets to Japan could possibly be refunded or modified without cost.

In Taiwan, the defence ministry stated on Sunday morning it had detected 30 Chinese language army plane working across the island and 7 navy ships over the previous 24 hours.

Late on Saturday, the ministry stated China had been finishing up one other "joint fight patrol" to "harass the air house and sea round us". It added Taiwan had despatched its personal plane and ships to observe the state of affairs. Taiwan reviews such Chinese language patrols a few instances a month as a part of what Taipei says is an ongoing army strain marketing campaign.

Taiwan's authorities says solely the island's folks can resolve its future.

Japanese leaders have beforehand averted publicly mentioning Taiwan when discussing such situations, sustaining a "strategic ambiguity" additionally favoured by Tokyo's important safety ally, the US.