China and Japan have given different accounts of a confrontation near the disputed Senkaku Islands, known in China as the Diaoyu Islands. The incident happened early Tuesday and involved coast guard ships from both countries and a Japanese fishing boat.
China’s Coast Guard said the Japanese fishing vessel had entered Chinese waters illegally before being forced to leave. It repeated Beijing’s claim that the islands belong to China.
Japan’s Coast Guard told a different story. It said two Chinese Coast Guard ships approached a Japanese fishing boat near the islands. Japanese patrol vessels then stepped in and drove the Chinese ships away.
Dispute Adds to Diplomatic Strain
The clash comes at a time of growing tension between the two Asian neighbours. Relations worsened after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said on 7 November that a Chinese attack on Taiwan could lead to a military response from Japan.
Tokyo says the Senkaku Islands are a lawful and historic part of Japan. China, however, continues to send fishing boats and coast guard ships into the area, rejecting Japan’s claim to sovereignty.
Risk of Escalation in the East China Sea
Experts warn that even small incidents like this one could lead to a larger conflict if not managed carefully. Both nations patrol the same waters, and encounters between ships have become more common in recent years.
The Senkaku Islands dispute remains one of East Asia’s most sensitive flashpoints. The ongoing confrontations have deepened mistrust and made diplomatic cooperation harder between the region’s two biggest economies.
(with inputs from Reuters)
