On June 24, Japan once again lodged a protest with China—this small detail reveals that the situation in the East China Sea is quietly shifting.
On that day, Chief Cabinet Secretary Kiichi Kihara made a statement at a press conference. He said that in waters west of the Japan-China median line in the East China Sea, China had already fixed a mobile drilling rig. Kihara used the phrase “extremely regrettable,” accusing China of “continuing to unilaterally pursue development and turn it into a fait accompli.”
Officials from Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that this protest had actually been raised as early as June 22—Asian and Oceanian Affairs Director Masashige Kanai met with Deputy Ambassador Shi Yong at the Chinese Embassy in Japan. Japan also made a request: to restart negotiations as soon as possible, based on the 2008 consensus between the two countries regarding joint development of gas fields.
In reality, the matter isn’t complicated: China has fixed a mobile drilling rig in waters west of the Japan-China median line in the East China Sea. Japan suspects China may be conducting trial extraction of a gas field. The Japanese Coast Guard even issued navigation alerts to nearby vessels.
Pay attention to one key detail: the vessel is described as “mobile,” yet it has been “fixed.” The difference between “mobile” and “fixed” is significant. A mobile vessel implies temporary operations; fixing it suggests long-term anchoring. Japan specifically emphasized the term “fixed,” indicating their assessment that this is not a one-off exploration activity, but rather part of a long-term plan.
Previously, after Japan protested, China would respond—and the issue would fade away. But this time is different. Just two days before the protest—on June 17 and 18—Japanese aircraft circled closely around the Chinese research vessel Yanghong-22 twice. In response, China directly warned: “This is within China’s jurisdictional waters—please do not interfere with our normal operations.” Harassing China before lodging a protest shows Japan’s growing anxiety.
Every time Japan protests, China continues doing what it was doing. Every time Japan demands resumption of talks, the negotiations never truly restart. Over time, Japan’s protests have lost effectiveness. Protests have become routine—Japan must say something, but saying it does nothing.
More importantly, China’s actions in the East China Sea are steadily advancing. From temporary activities to permanent facilities, from mobility to fixation. Each step is small, but each pushes forward incrementally. Japan, aside from protesting, really has little else it can do.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1868865945225280/
Disclaimer: This article represents the personal views of the author.