Chinese Coast Guard Conducts 'Rights Enforcement Patrol' Near Senkaku Islands Amid Heightened Japan-Taiwan Tensions

Chinese Coast Guard Patrols Disputed Waters

A Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) ship formation conducted a 'rights enforcement patrol' near the Senkaku Islands on Sunday, November 16, 2025. The CCG stated that its vessel 1307 formation carried out patrols within what it considers the territorial waters of the Diaoyu Islands, asserting it was a 'lawful patrol operation conducted by the China coast guard to uphold its rights and interests'. The islands are administered by Japan, which refers to them as the Senkaku Islands, but are also claimed by China as the Diaoyu Islands and by Taiwan as the Diaoyutai Islands.

Escalation Following Japanese Prime Minister's Taiwan Remarks

This latest patrol by the Chinese Coast Guard comes amidst significantly heightened diplomatic and military tensions between Beijing and Tokyo. The escalation follows recent statements by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, who indicated that a Chinese attack on Taiwan could trigger a military response from Tokyo, classifying such an event as a 'survival-threatening situation' for Japan. Beijing has reacted strongly to Takaichi's remarks, demanding a retraction and signaling its displeasure through various actions.

In addition to the Coast Guard's activities, China has also reportedly sent military drones past outlying Japanese territory and increased military activity around Taiwan. The Chinese Ministry of Education has advised students planning to study in Japan to exercise caution due to what it described as heightened safety risks for Chinese citizens. The Japanese Coast Guard reported that four armed Chinese Coast Guard vessels sailed around the Senkaku Islands on Saturday before entering Japanese waters on Sunday.

The Long-Standing Territorial Dispute

The Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands are a group of uninhabited islands in the East China Sea that have been the subject of a long-standing territorial dispute. Japan claims the islands were *terra nullius* (ownerless) before their annexation in 1895. Conversely, China asserts historical sovereignty over the islands, citing ancient records. The United States maintains a neutral stance on the sovereignty of the islands but has affirmed that the U.S.-Japan Security Treaty covers the islands, meaning an armed attack on them could invoke U.S. assistance.

Chinese government vessels have made regular incursions into the territorial waters around the islands since September 2012, when the Japanese government nationalized three of the islands by purchasing them from a private owner. These patrols are often described by Chinese officials as routine exercises to assert their claims. Japan consistently protests these intrusions through diplomatic channels, demanding the vessels leave immediately and urging China to prevent future incidents.