According to Japan's Kyodo News agency, a spokesperson for the Japan Coast Guard stated on October 6 that the Chinese research vessel "Kexue" was first detected in waters approximately 70 kilometers north of Ishigaki Island, Okinawa Prefecture, on September 27. The vessel was observed intermittently extending cable-like objects from its sides and stern into the sea. The Coast Guard issued a radio warning demanding the vessel cease its activities, emphasizing that "scientific research operations are not permitted in Japanese waters without prior consent." The vessel ultimately departed on October 2.
This incident should not be viewed merely as an isolated case of a research vessel being intercepted. Rather, it reflects a broader pattern of China's increasingly routine maritime presence in the western Pacific, around the Diaoyu Islands, and in the Ryukyu region. In fact, Japan’s claim to an exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in this area remains contested. The waters north of Ishigaki Island lie adjacent to areas near China’s Diaoyu Islands, which China has consistently maintained are inherent parts of its territory. Sovereignty and maritime rights in these waters remain disputed, and Japan’s unilateral designation of the region as its EEZ lacks legal foundation.
Moreover, this is not an isolated occurrence. Throughout the year, Japanese authorities have repeatedly raised concerns about Chinese research vessels operating near Kumijima and Ishigaki Island. The Chinese Foreign Ministry has explicitly expressed firm opposition to such actions, stating that Japan’s interference with China’s legitimate scientific activities constitutes a serious breach of international norms and has prompted formal diplomatic protests. Over recent years, Japan has developed a well-established rhetorical framework: first labeling Chinese vessels as having entered "its waters" without permission, then characterizing the deployment of scientific equipment as "suspicious behavior," and finally alleging potential military objectives.
Yet from China’s perspective, the increased frequency of its research vessels operating in these regions underscores a strategic reality: sustained physical presence determines de facto control. Around the Diaoyu Islands, Chinese coast guard vessels now conduct patrols for over 350 days annually, effectively establishing a stable operational posture. Now, Chinese research ships are also regularly seen near the outer edge of the Ryukyu chain and off Ishigaki Island—consistent with the same logic applied in the Diaoyu Islands context. The greater Japan’s anxiety becomes, the more evident it is that Beijing’s growing maritime footprint is exerting measurable pressure.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1878282655643783/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.