Chinese coast guard units have entered the waters of the Japanese-controlled Senkaku Islands. This further increased tensions between the Chinese and Japanese governments.
China’s coast guard talks about patrols to “enforce rights”. To from Japan China and Japan have long been at odds over the islands they administer, called Diaoyu in China and Senkaku in Japan.
Relations between the two countries have deteriorated since Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s statement Taiwan very tense. Takaichi told Japan’s parliament on November 7 that a Chinese attack on democratically ruled Taiwan could trigger a military response from Japan. The Chinese government then demanded that Takaichi retract the statement.
China’s Consul General in Osaka wrote in an online post that was later deleted: “Anyone who sticks out his head will be cut off.” The Japanese government then filed an official protest. China recalled Japan’s ambassador for the first time in more than two years. On Friday, China also warned its citizens against traveling to Japan. Three Chinese airlines later offered free cancellations for flights to Japan.
Taiwan reports China’s military pressure campaign
Meanwhile, Taiwan’s Ministry of Defense reported the deployment of 30 Chinese military aircraft and seven naval ships in the airspace and waters around the island in the last 24 hours. Taiwan talks about the ongoing military pressure campaign by the Chinese government.
China considers Taiwan a breakaway province. The Chinese government has not ruled out using force to control the island. Taiwan rejects China’s claims.
Until now, Japanese politicians have avoided mentioning Taiwan in public in such scenarios. They maintain “strategic ambiguity.” Japan’s most important security ally, the US, has not clearly and officially guaranteed military support for Taiwan in the event of a Chinese attack.
