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Diaoyu Islands

China’s coastguard faces ‘unprecedented strain’ as tensions rise on 3 fronts

The force is expanding its fleet rapidly as it confronts major challenges – especially from the Philippines in the South China Sea.

The force is expanding its fleet rapidly as it confronts major challenges – especially from the Philippines in the South China Sea

1 Aug 2024 - 9:42AMvideocam

Chinese foreign minister warns relations with Japan risk going backwards

26 Jul 2024 - 11:03PMvideocam

Philippines braces for Taiwan fallout as ‘bolder’ Japan challenges Beijing

16 Jul 2024 - 10:53AM

Japanese lawmakers will soon visit Beijing. What’s on the agenda?

The visit to China by Japanese lawmakers is an attempt to resurrect the countries’ regular exchanges that were halted amid the pandemic.

15 Jul 2024 - 11:41AMvideocam

Cut-outs depicting US President Joe Biden and former president Donald Trump are displayed at a souvenir shop in Washington. Photo: Reuters

Why a Chinese buoy in remote waters has made Japan ‘very angry’

Beijing asserts that Japan has no right to claim Okinotorishima, where the buoy was discovered, as an island under UN definitions.

9 Jul 2024 - 10:55AM

Explainer | China Coast Guard: what does it do and how did it become so powerful?

After another South China Sea stand-off between Beijing and Manila, we look at how China’s coastguard became so formidable.

1 Jul 2024 - 12:30PM

Coastguard law could trigger new conflict ‘flashpoints’ in Japan-China ties

Analysts concerned China could step up law enforcement operations around Diaoyu Islands and overwhelm Japanese coastguard.

18 Jun 2024 - 6:00PMvideocam

A China Coast Guard vessel sails near a Japan Coast Guard vessel off Uotsuri Island, one of a group of disputed islands called Senkaku Islands in Japan, also known in China as Diaoyu Islands, in the East China Sea on April 27. Photo: Kyodo via Reuters

Japan’s coastguard to build megaship – is move aimed at China in Diaoyu Islands?

The move by Japan to boost its presence around what it calls the Senkaku Islands comes as tensions with China continue to simmer over their territorial dispute.

10 Jun 2024 - 7:01PMvideocam

Japan reports first sighting of new PLA combat drone over East China Sea

Japanese Ministry of Defence says it monitored the WZ-10 UAV flying near Okinawa within air defence zone in the East China Sea, which Tokyo says has been visited by Chinese ships every day this year.

28 May 2024 - 8:36PM

Japan says Chinese ships spotted near East China Sea islets every day this year

Tokyo’s top government spokesman on Monday described the series of ‘intrusions into territorial waters’ around the Diaoyu Islands as ‘an extremely serious matter’.

27 May 2024 - 1:06PM

The Diaoyu/Senkaku Islands. On Monday, Japan’s coastguard said it had observed Chinese vessels sailing near the disputed islets for a record 158th day. Photo: Kyodo via Reuters

US-led alliance adds to Beijing’s challenges in East and South China Seas

Beijing’s latest confrontations with Tokyo and Manila over contested islands come as they strengthen maritime coalition with Washington.

30 Apr 2024 - 11:55PMvideocam

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Philippine Coast Guard ship BRP Bagacay is hit by water cannons from Chinese vessels near Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea on Tuesday. Photo: Philippine Coast Guard/AFP

Chinese coastguard face off with Japanese politicians in disputed East China Sea

Chinese embassy lodges solemn representations over ‘infringement and provocation’ after confrontation near the Diaoyu Islands, called Senkaku by Japan

28 Apr 2024 - 7:03PM

How could an Aukus role for Tokyo affect China’s ties with Japan?

The relationship between the two Asian giants is already ‘complex and delicate’, despite their intertwined economies.

13 Apr 2024 - 5:41PMvideocam

Japan gets ‘same toys as the big boys’ with first aircraft carrier since WWII

The upgraded Kaga, now capable of deploying the vertical take-off variant of the F-35 Lightning II stealth fighter, will be a welcome addition to Japan’s arsenal, analysts say.

10 Apr 2024 - 10:36AM

A navigator runs back to her post after raising the Rising Sun Flag, the Japanese naval ensign, aboard the Kaga in 2018 while it was still a helicopter carrier. Photo: Reuters

Taiwan’s former leader Ma Ying-jeou rejects Japan’s claims to Diaoyu Islands

Mainland-friendly Taiwanese ex-president denies disputed Diaoyus are Japanese territory after being shown Ming-era manuscripts in ancient imperial city of Xian during ‘journey of peace’, Xinhua reports.

7 Apr 2024 - 8:04PMvideocam

Former Taiwanese president Ma Ying-jeou (centre) visits the Xian branch of the China National Archives of Publications and Culture in the northwest province of Shaanxi on Saturday. Photo: Xinhua

Is Japan enhancing civilian air hubs and seaports for US military use?

No official details yet on involvement of US forces, but the sighting of a Chinese unmanned aircraft near Japanese waters has raised a security spectre.

29 Mar 2024 - 9:42AMvideocam

China has drawn its line in the Gulf of Tonkin. Is the South China Sea next?

Beijing has released a series of points to define its waters along its southern coast, which some observers say extends its maritime area.

19 Mar 2024 - 11:00PMvideocam

Hong Kong textbooks amended after pupils stopped at border over unofficial maps

Fung Kai Liu Man Shek Tong Secondary School vows to replace unofficial maps of China in Form Two history textbooks after mainland customs stop at least two students at border.

7 Mar 2024 - 8:57PM

Local education authorities have contacted Fung Kai Liu Man Shek Tong Secondary School to offer assistance. Photo: Google

Beijing sends coastguard ships from Diaoyus to patrol near Quemoy

In a sign Beijing is stepping up pressure on Taipei, fleet carried out vessel checks, fishing boat protection and issued warnings near Kinmen where mainland fishermen died, says China Coast Guard.

26 Feb 2024 - 8:37PMvideocam

Tokyo ‘extremely concerned’ over rising tensions with Beijing in East China Sea

Japan deployed airborne early warning aircraft and at least one marine destroyer in response to Chinese vessels sailing near disputed islands in the East China Sea.

5 Feb 2024 - 1:27PM

China unlikely to apply ‘economic coercion’ against Japan amid slowdown

A top Japanese business delegation has failed to get Beijing to address Tokyo’s concerns such as China’s anti-espionage law and seafood ban.

2 Feb 2024 - 8:00AMvideocam

Chinese Premier Li Qiang meets with a Japanese business delegation visiting China, led by Chairman of the Japan-China Economic Association Kosei Shindo, in Beijing on January 25. Photo: Xinhua/Yao Dawei

Most Japanese do not have ‘friendly feelings’ towards China, poll shows

Some 86 per cent of the 3,000 respondents in the annual Cabinet Office survey had negative feelings about China and were concerned about Chinese aggression in the South China Sea, Taiwan and the Diaoyu Islands.

24 Jan 2024 - 11:52AMvideocam

Chinese tourists arrive at Haneda Airport. Survey respondents that spoke to This Week in Asia clarified they did not dislike the Chinese people and culture, with their negative feelings only aimed at the Chinese government. Photo: Bloomberg

US looks to Japan shipyards deal to stay battle-ready amid tensions in region

The deal will ensure Japanese shipyards can carry out major repairs on warships of the US Seventh Fleet, a move that analysts say makes ‘political and strategic sense’.

23 Jan 2024 - 4:34PM

Eyeing ‘if Trump’ scenario, Japan must commit to its own defence

Experts say Japan could be forced to deal with a militarily emboldened China and North Korea, with reduced US engagement in the region, if Donald Trump returns to the White House.

31 Dec 2023 - 4:00PMvideocam

Japan secretly asked China to drop Diaoyus claim before 1992 royal visit

Declassified documents showed Tokyo urged Chinese officials to refrain from publicly speaking about the disputed islands to avoid causing rift among the Japanese public.

20 Dec 2023 - 2:14PMvideocam

A Japanese surveillance plane flies over the disputed Diaoyu Islands in the East China Sea. File photo: Kyodo News via AP

Opinion | 86 years after rape of Nanking, China should forge closer ties with Japan

Amicable relations and reduced tensions are good for both countries, Asia and the world. Critically, if China and Japan remain hostile, it will play into the hands of the US.

10 Dec 2023 - 7:33AMvideocam

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida (left) shakes hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping during their meeting in San Francisco, on November 16, on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum summit. Photo: Kyodo

Xi calls on coastguard to enforce law, defend China’s territorial sovereignty

Chinese president makes the remarks in visit to command office for East China Sea, saying they must crack down on criminal activities and safeguard the maritime economy.

2 Dec 2023 - 2:11AMvideocam

Kishida and Xi’s ‘pointless’ meeting fails to close gap on thorny issues

Japan’s PM Fumio Kishida did not push China’s Xi Jinping “very hard” over issues such as the Fukushima-linked food ban and Taiwan, an analyst says.

23 Nov 2023 - 8:30AMvideocam

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Diaoyu Islands

The Diaoyu Islands are a group of uninhabited islands located roughly due east of mainland China, northeast of Taiwan, west of Okinawa Island, and north of the southwestern end of the Ryukyu Islands. They are currently controlled by Japan, which calls them Senkaku Islands. Both China and Taiwan claim sovereignty over the islands.