BEIJING, November 16, 2025 – A formation of China Coast Guard vessels sailed through the waters surrounding the Senkaku Islands, a Japan-administered territory claimed by Beijing as the Diaoyu Islands, the Chinese authorities confirmed. The patrol, described as a “rights enforcement operation”, comes amid escalating diplomatic tensions between China and Japan following Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s remarks on potential military action in the event of a Chinese attack on Taiwan.

Background: Rising Diplomatic Strains

On November 7, Prime Minister Takaichi warned that a hypothetical Chinese attack on Taiwan could trigger a military response from Japan under its collective self-defense framework. Her comments broke with decades of strategic ambiguity maintained by previous Japanese leaders and drew an angry response from Beijing.

In reaction, China has:

• Summoned the Japanese ambassador to Beijing for the first time in over two years.
• Warned Japanese citizens that any military intervention in Taiwan would fail.
• Issued travel advisories discouraging Chinese nationals from visiting Japan.
• Increased naval and air patrols near Taiwan and disputed territories.

Beijing also described the Coast Guard patrol near the Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands as a lawful operation to uphold Chinese rights and interests, signaling its intent to assert territorial claims more aggressively.

The Senkaku/Diaoyu Dispute

The Senkaku Islands, located 110 kilometers (68 miles) from Taiwan, have long been a flashpoint between China and Japan. Japan administers the islands, while China claims them as part of its territory. Such confrontations often involve naval vessels and aircraft conducting routine patrols, testing responses, and asserting sovereignty claims.

Taiwan, meanwhile, monitors these activities closely. Over the past 24 hours, Taiwan’s defense ministry reported:

• 30 Chinese military aircraft operating in proximity to the island.
• Seven Chinese navy ships conducting operations nearby.
• Joint combat patrols aimed at harassing Taiwanese airspace and territorial waters, which Taipei says occur multiple times monthly.

Taiwan’s government reaffirmed that only its people can determine the island’s future, rejecting Beijing’s sovereignty claims.

Escalating Tensions and Global Implications

China’s recent actions signal a willingness to pressure both Taiwan and Japan while testing diplomatic limits. Japanese officials have called on Beijing to take “appropriate measures”, following threats such as the comment from China’s Consul General in Osaka:

“The dirty head that sticks itself out must be cut off,”

These remarks prompted a formal protest from Tokyo. Meanwhile, Chinese airlines allowed ticket changes and refunds for travel to Japan, illustrating the broader economic and diplomatic ramifications of the dispute.

The escalation underscores the strategic importance of the East China Sea in regional security, particularly amid growing U.S.-Japan cooperation and heightened tensions over Taiwan Strait security. Analysts suggest that continued patrols near the Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands could further destabilize relations in the region if not carefully managed.