Japan, China Locked In Blame Game After Fresh Maritime Standoff Near Disputed Senkaku Islands

Last Updated:July 07, 2026, 12:19 IST

Japanese authorities said Chinese coast guard vessels entered what Tokyo considers its territorial waters near the uninhabited Senkaku Islands.

A fresh confrontation between Japanese and Chinese coast guard vessels near the disputed Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea has once again highlighted one of Asia’s most volatile territorial flashpoints, with both countries claiming they forced the other’s ships out of waters they consider their own.

According to AFP, the incident unfolded on Tuesday after Japanese authorities said Chinese coast guard vessels entered what Tokyo considers its territorial waters near the uninhabited Senkaku Islands. China, which calls the islands the Diaoyu Islands, rejected Japan’s account and instead accused a Japanese fishing boat of illegally entering Chinese waters.

What Happened?

Japan’s Coast Guard said four Chinese coast guard ships were operating near the islands, with two of them entering Japanese territorial waters while approaching a Japanese fishing vessel. The coast guard said it immediately dispatched patrol ships to protect the fishing boat and ordered the Chinese vessels to leave. According to AFP, the Japanese Coast Guard said it had “successfully" forced the Chinese ships to exit the waters by around 9:20 a.m. local time.

Japanese officials described the Chinese vessels’ actions as “a violation of international law" and reiterated that the islands are an inherent part of Japan’s territory.

China’s Version

Beijing offered a sharply different account. China’s Coast Guard spokesperson Liu Dejun said a Japanese fishing vessel had “illegally entered China’s territorial waters" around the Diaoyu Islands.

According to the statement, Chinese coast guard ships “took necessary control measures in accordance with the law and warned and drove it away." Liu also urged Japan to “immediately cease all illegal activities in these waters."

Why Are Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands Contentious?

The tiny, uninhabited island chain lies in the East China Sea between Japan’s Okinawa prefecture and Taiwan. Japan administers the islands, but China and Taiwan also claim sovereignty over them.

Beyond their symbolic importance, the surrounding waters are believed to be rich in fishing resources and potentially contain oil and natural gas reserves. The islands also occupy a strategically important location along major maritime routes.

Because of these competing claims, Chinese coast guard ships regularly patrol waters around the islands, while Japan maintains a constant coast guard presence. Diplomatic protests between the two countries frequently follow such encounters.

The latest standoff comes amid steadily worsening ties between Tokyo and Beijing.

In recent months, both countries have exchanged protests over military activity in the East China Sea and around Taiwan, while China has increased maritime patrols near the disputed islands. Japan, meanwhile, has strengthened its defence posture in response to what it describes as an increasingly assertive Chinese military presence in the region.

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