China orders Japanese fishing boat to leave waters near disputed islands

Japanese coast guard should be there to give a response with warning shots.

Well, it's probably not about the fish, so maybe a more substantial vessel would be more appropriate next time.

As with most property disputes this should be settled in court, if it hasn’t already be done so. Whatever outcome should be respected by all parties.

Time for Japan to have a fill on showdown with this made in china, tyrant. China is a spineless bully that needs to be smacked down. While it's easy for China to abuse its own people, it's quite another thing to go up against the western war machine. China knows which side of the bread is buttered. Any assertion that china would risk economic calamity over a full-on confrontation with Japan is absurd. Remember Japan is not alone.

Just remember, we have the incompetent, racist former governor of Tokyo Ishihara Shintaro to thank for this problem. It was he who brought the whole issue to the forefront when he tried to buy the islands for Tokyo. They had been held by a private family, but he Ishihara wanted to stick it to China, and now we have this problem. He also pushed for the Tokyo Olympics as well. Another huge loss for Japan.

As with most property disputes this should be settled in court, if it hasn’t already be done so. Whatever outcome should be respected by all parties.

Very true. If only China would respect it. China chooses to ignore the international court ruling at the Hague brought by the Phillippines when its ruling didn't go China's way, and continues to use its military to push Phillippines out of the area. Sadly, there is only one way to counter the CCP - force.

Like two spoilt toddlers fighting over a ball.

No, is it is a made in china dictatorship trying to take something that does belong to it.

GuruMickToday 08:49 am JST

USA doesnt respect or abide by International Courts and Tribunals either.

The US isn't a member of UNCLOS or the Rome Statute but fortunately Japan's dispute is not with the US.

Not being a "member " or "signatory " gives you an out ?

Nah...nation states that are powerful do what they want.

Israel anyone?

And I believe the "Internation Tribunal for the Law of the Sea " is the appropriate body to handle this type of dispute.

Not sure how the Rome Statute would get a run....sounds good to name drop maybe ?

How did the Japanese fishermen react to the order by China?

AustPaulToday  07:26 am JST

As with most property disputes this should be settled in court, if it hasn’t already be done so. Whatever outcome should be respected by all parties.

Absolutely correct.

Except that China is not a signatory to the agreement recognizing ICJ jurisdiction or rulings. China does not recognize any inernational rulings that affect it's sovereignty.

Just as the Phillipines won a ruling but China won't recognize it.

So the only party that needs to learn to respect international law is China.

How did the Japanese fishermen react to the order by China?

Obviously they kept right on fishing. It is Japanese territory and there were Japanese patrol boats there to protect the fisherman's rights to fish there. China has no rights in Japanese waters, even they know that.

China trying to bully and bluff their way to ownership. Japan is having none of that.

Fairly certain the Chinese were ordered to leave, and then did so. As they always end up doing.

This is just another example of China causing trouble in other peoples territory. There are many examples of this behavior from China on an almost daily basis in the region. China is a very bad neighbor.

My sympathies go out to all who must put up with China's abhorrent and uncivilized behavior.

Obviously they kept right on fishing. It is Japanese territory and there were Japanese patrol boats there to protect the fisherman's rights to fish there.

How do you know this? Nothing in the article supporting your statement.

The ownership of the islands is disputed and Japan agreed to shelve the issue so the Chinese have as much right to order Japanese fishermen away as the Japanese do to chase off Chinese and Taiwanese fishermen.

How do you know this? Nothing in the article supporting your statement.

The article says this:-

China's coast guard said Saturday its officers ordered a Japanese fishing vessel and several patrol ships to leave waters surrounding tiny Japanese-controlled islands in the East China Sea.

Why Would the Japanese patrol ships leave Japanese territory because a foreign nation tells them to? They never have before. The patrol boats are there to police the area and protect Japanese fishing vessels as they go about their business. You seem to assume the Japanese ships left the area. That is not only not supported by the article but is contrary to normal behavior by Japanese ships in Japanese territory.

Clearly the Japanese ships continued to fish, and patrol as normal. They had no reason to leave.

In West Philippine Sea. they didn't just ordered, they blasted water cannon on Filipinos fishing vessels and even prevented the re supply vessels to the disputed islands. Seems like they want to own the whole of Asia while their "friendship" wants the whole of Europe.

the Chinese have as much right to order Japanese fishermen away as the Japanese do to chase off Chinese and Taiwanese fishermen.

No, they dont. The islands ownership is disputed by the two nations that do not control them, while the nation that does control them and is recognized internationally as controlling the Islands, to them there is no dispute. The Islands are Japanese and Japan controls them.

Only the controlling nation has the right to expel foreign ships. Taiwan has a signed agreement with the controlling nation, Japan, for the right to fish in these waters. China has no such signed agreement.

So even one of the two nations disputing ownership, recognizes that Japan currently controls the Senkaku islands and abides by the bilateral agreement. China just wants to bully its way to ownership via military means. It knows no other way to resolve issues apparently.

Chinese inexperience at cordial dialog and its refusal to seek peaceful resolution to its unrealistic claims over almost the entire South China sea, and extensive claims over the East China sea that have no true legitimacy, is the reason it resorts to military brinkmanship. It knows that it has no real claim, and could not win any of them in international courts or arbitration. In fact this is the reason China wants to alter the rules based order that has supported its growth and prosperity for decades. Now that it desires an expanded empire, it can not do so by being lawful or following the system of peace and order. It can only expand by ignoring sovereignty of others and using its huge military for expansion and control of others and their territory.

China is becoming everyone's enemy. Either submit to China's will (Xi's will) or face eventual conflict or confrontation with China, as Philippines, Japan, Taiwan and others are already experiencing.

These islands are closer to the China Mainland than to Japan.

and several patrol ships

I missed that part

Japan should send bigger ships like a destroyer to keep the control of his islands.

Or maybe even build a military outpost as the coast guard is evidently not enough to keep these communist chinese aggressors out of the waters.

China is seriously embarrassing herself with this dirty militaristic expansions against peaceful nations.

"These islands are closer to the China Mainland than to Japan."

So?

Aren't the Spratleys closer to the Philippines mainland?

What's closeness got to do with it?

In any event, they are closer to Japan (Yonaguni) at 150 Km.

MarkXToday  07:59 am JST

Just remember, we have the incompetent, racist former governor of Tokyo Ishihara Shintaro to thank for this problem. It was he who brought the whole issue to the forefront when he tried to buy the islands for Tokyo.

Pure Chinese propaganda. The 2 islands were already owned by Japanese natioals.. Ishihara wanted to buy these and make them Tokyo Property but the Kan Administration bought them and made them national property. 1

China used this as an excuse to break the 1972 Sino-Japanese Treaty of Friemdship and China's Affirmation of same in 1978.

Proof that the Japanese govt owning any of these islands was not really an issue for China is that one of the 5 islands ws already owned by the J-gov. In fact at one time they let the US use it as a live bombing target site for training.

China is on a claiming streak based on their "I do what I want"

China (not talking about people in general) should consider that this behaviour will have consequences on the long term. Already the export embargo has a large impact on China and hopefully it will get more stricter.

Bite me (us) China.

Sounds like the little piano incident in London. telling people what to do in their own back years, only this time its in Japans back water. The CCP has hidden its claws as we have run to their capitalist market trough and our greed blinds us. Being a capitalist does not mean your a democracy. Sadly the USA, EU et al confused them the Kissinger got it wrong. The people havent risen up and asked for democracy as they got rich. So long as the CCP keeps the minions happy, they will go along with the CCP and it's wishes. and the chinese public don't care about Nepal, Honk Kong, the Uyghurs.They will swallow the CCP propaganda and will abide by its wishes. Cause you know where you might end up, if you upset Winnie the Pooh.

These islands are closer to the China Mainland than to Japan.

That means nothing, nothing at all.

from my years experience dealing with chinese, i get the rules : they will appeared to be harmless angel in front of you if you are superior than them, they will be yelling human right, racist issues, peace everyday. but...and but, mind you, if you suddenly become weak or lose your ranking, that angel will turn demon in next second, suddenly he will use all his ways to torture you, bully you, and humiliate you in a way out of your imagination, until you doubt is it the same person who play angel just now? trust me, if you are dealing with them, you are dealing with the most hypocrite person in the world. be careful and always watch your back

According to the Japanese Coast Guard, 2 Chinese ships entered Japanese waters around the Senkakus just before noon on January 27 and began following a Japanese fishing boat. A Japanese patrol boat in the area warned the Chinese vessels to leave, which they did, about 6 hours later. It was the second such incursion this year.

https://www.sankei.com/article/20240127-GV4UKIQYSZOULBWRBRFNAYUDJI/

The two countries are bored with nothing to do and so find something to argue about in the disputed islands which are just pieces of rock jutting out the sea to exercise their tongues every year for the last many, many, many years.

China laying psychological groundwork for Taiwan. Fishing tensions strictly designed to send message to world, including Japan, that China's not playing around.

President Xi has EXPLICITLY stated MANY times within last six months in PUBLIC and directly to Pres. Biden that China will re-unify Taiwan. His commitment is absolute. While US commit by design is strategically ambivalent.

Tension existed for MANY decades between China and Taiwan, like Russia & Ukraine, Gaza & Israel = NOT NEW.

Thus, critical to find reasonable diplomatic compromise, solution, while not perfect for either China or Taiwan, results in maintaining peace vs. war. Must be workable middle ground, exactly like Ukraine & Gaza etc.

HopeSpringsEternalToday 03:14 pm JST

Thus, critical to find reasonable diplomatic compromise, solution, while not perfect for either China or Taiwan, results in maintaining peace vs. war. Must be workable middle ground, exactly like Ukraine & Gaza etc.

The "middle ground" for Taiwan and Ukraine is for China and Russia to f off. Your country should try surrender if you say otherwise.

GuruMickToday 09:10 am JST

And I believe the "Internation Tribunal for the Law of the Sea " is the appropriate body to handle this type of dispute.

Not sure how the Rome Statute would get a run....sounds good to name drop maybe ?

Because you are trying to make the claim that the US is the only treaty violator and I am forced to assume what the details of your absent argument are.

China is the biggest trawler of fish across all the oceans sometimes with a fleet and large fish factory.

These islands are closer to the China Mainland than to Japan.

No they are not, they are closer to Ishigaki and Yonaguni than China, and both of those are JAPANESE territory.

Get your facts straight!

The nameless author(s) of this piece, filed from Beijing, seem to have taken the bait, failing to investigate the Japanese Coast Guard's more detailed and credible account of the incident, as per the Sankei Shimbun link above.