China authorizes coast guard to use force amid disputes

... So is this a declaration of war?

Took them forever to become the 2nd economy and they think they’re tough now... not quite there yet, keep trying. Japan and its allies are not afraid of you.

Withdraw from quad and move on. It is not possible to contain China.

It is strategic blunder to "nationalize" Senkakus.

there is more to the story actually....there was a major incursion yesterday by Chinese fighters into Taiwan's defense zone (unprecedented actually)....links below

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-taiwan-china-security-idUSKBN29S0BK

https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/1387983/China-Taiwan-latest-news-World-War-3-fears-conflict-invasion-war-missile-fighter-bomber

@Akie - It is cold in Beijing today so I hope you are staying warm. Actually Tibetans, although having some Chinese genes are genetically differrent than Chinese and thus they are capable of living at high altitudes. Most of this research has been documented by Chinese.

Heinrich Harrer was quite a real man. You can see some of his great photography of the Free and independent Tibet on his web page.

Heinrich Harrer Limited Edition Portfolio: Gallery: The Horn at Chagpori (harrerportfolio.com)

Withdraw from quad and move on. It is not possible to contain China.

Yes we know your nation's real intentions...to continue to take what is not China's.

Keep moving the players on the chess board. China just took the next move against its foe. Where are the greatest chess masters when we need them? Or 'RISK' players? I'm pretty good at the latter.

I don't see China's coast guard going toe to toe with any other government's boats, but I do see this as a tool by China to pressure fishing boats out of the best waters.

I also see a freedom of navigation tour coming in the next 6 months by the US navy.

**@isoducky* I also see a freedom of navigation tour coming in the next 6 months by the US navy.*

Oh no, it is a continuous thing. Even if the news is not reporting it, US military assets are out there everyday. Places like the Spratlys were avoided decades past, now its the proverbial US Interstate 5 of the area. lol

Probably just testing Biden’s response.

If Japan wants to have an aggressive foreign policy, it needs to back it up and stop relying on the US. Funny that a country can renounce war and still have territorial disputes with all it’s neighbors. If Japan truly wants peace then find a peaceful solution.

Don’t believe in violence. Just confiscate the boats and make the crew pay by themselves to go home. If they know illegally entering China without a visa and it will cost them personally, then this very dangerous standoff can be prevented.

DUH so TRUMP is now out of the White House, the little puppet sits there now and will not do anything involving China and a potential flash point.

It’s no surprise that this rather provocative announcement comes now right after Biden took office. Look for US forces in the Western Pacific to decline in strength. The Left controls Washington and can slash defense spending. Biden will have fewer options to counter any Chinese moves in the region. After Dems abandoned Bush after voting for war don’t look for Republican support in any confrontation - especially given the Biden families close ties with the CCP. It’s getting really serious.

The Coast Guards of most nations are law enforcement. China has just blurred the line between their "Coast Guard" and the PLA Navy. Of course China already militarized all their fishing boats as "maritime militia". China constantly ups the stakes inching closer to war and conflict. Japan, the US and all allies need to respond in kind. Already the wumaos are here claiming that Biden won't stand up to China. Obviously they don't read the news.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-biden-intelligence-idUSKBN29O18J

AlternativeOpinionToday  10:43 am JST

If Japan wants to have an aggressive foreign policy, it needs to back it up and stop relying on the US. Funny that a country can renounce war and still have territorial disputes with all it’s neighbors.

Not funny at all. It's because Japan has renounced war that neighboring countries feel free to take advantage of Japan and claim their territory.

Hello Kitty 321Today  11:06 am JST

Why not, the Japanese coastguard have opened fire on North Korean boats and sunk them.

The JCG does not act on "sovereignty issues" like this new China policy. And the JCG fired on a North Korean poacher after being fired upon.

nothing less than the footsteps in a movie called 7 yrs in Tibet.

Japan must send its navy now to the senkakus and assert ownership or loose them. It’s fine to ask the US Navy to join, in an observance role only.

If Japans says they are Japanese, it needs to claim them now.

Japan is screwed. as Japan needs China to survive

China is obviously encouraged by the news of the Biden administration:

Taiwan recorded no fewer than 13 incursions by Chinese military planes into its air defense identification zone (ADIZ) in a single day Saturday (Jan. 23), the most of any such incidents within one day so far this year.

According to CNA, one Y-8 anti-submarine aircraft, four J-16 fighter jets and eight H-6K bombers ventured into Taiwan's ADIZ during the day.

Earlier, the Liberty Times reported that Taiwan’s Air Force scrambled a total of 26 jets between 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. to counter seven incursions, which all occurred in the southwest corner of the ADIZ, the Liberty Times reported.

My impression is that China is simply waiting for the US military to be committed to war with Iran before it strikes. Although I expect if there is another eight years of institutional rot, as there was under Obama, that might be sufficient so that the PLA feels a middle east distraction is not even necessary. The US military is already half of the way to full on paper tiger status as it is.

Don't forget that Taiwan now has its first female president, Tsai Ing-wen. The Taiwanese better hope she is more Margaret Thatcher than Angela Merkel.

Japan sends its coast guard, so I hope there is no hypocrisy here.

Japan must be ready to use force and defend its own territory from rogue nations like China. Biden USA can’t be trusted. The new occupant of the White House has historical ties with China.

Humanity has pleaded, cajoled, implored, beseeched and goaded in places..basically we have said and done ALL that is needed to avoid a war, especially in that region. It might be time to let things take their course....and burn themselves out...because we've known all along.

The danger with this, quote:

The Coast Guard Law passed on Friday empowers the force to “take all necessary measures, including the use of weapons, when national sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction are being illegally infringed upon by foreign organizations or individuals at sea.”

... is that China does not recognize international laws, thus interpretation of “illegally” is open to every strutting captain on his little white coastguard cutter.

Probably just testing Biden’s response.

The Biden Administration needs a top-notch trouble-shooter with intimate knowledge of the Chinese yet someone who has the ear and confidence of the president. That man is none other than Hunter Biden! (Better now?)

I have a question and greatly appreciated if someone can respond with a proper response?

If China as the article states has authorized the use of weaponized force against such claims in this case clearly Taiwan and the Senkakus, and if China does not recognize the San Francisco Treaty of 1945 or administrative control as ruled by International Board regarding of Senkakus which are a part of the Ryukyo Kingdom islets under Japan administration, then does this allow Japan to legally attack any country that does not recognize such treaty? Afterall in China's opinion it doesn't exist thus clearly leaving Japan open to any action it deems necessary to include military action against such countries. Now I'm not saying that Japan should attack nor attack but rather can it do so regardless of how other countries view the treaty since they recognize this treaty as it applies to each one independently and recognize the treaty as it stands. Mind you the action of such a response from Japan against an attack by China to Japan is relies solely on China's action.

This was coming..and will get worse..Biden may react to this, but has no idea on how to respond to this.

To deal with this latest aggressive move of China, Vietnam and other claimants need to join the QUAD and take China to Arbitration over the Southeast Asia Sea.

In the meantime, the US under the Biden Government needs to show the free world that China's aggressiveness will be stopped by the QUAD, as well as boycott and sanction.

And China can sail their vesels in Japanese Senkaku islands.

The problem is that Japan was considering building something on the Senkaku Islands, but that would now become a target, under China's new 'rules'.

Japan did not build anything there, (even though there are the remains of a Japanese fishing community there), out of courtesy to Taiwan and China, wishing not to fan any warlike flames. Now China has again taken further advantage of this courtesy, interpreting it as weakness.

I don't see why Japan doesn't fortify the Senkakus - tit-for-tat - identical to what the Chinese have unilaterally done in the S. China Sea - EXCEPT - THAT THE SENKAKUS ARE INFACT JAPANESE

"Japan did not build anything there, (even though there are the remains of a Japanese fishing community there), out of courtesy to Taiwan and China, "

First time hearing that the remains of the fishing/albatross company build by Koga, was "courtesy of Taiwan and China".

Illogical, but since this is JT....

You ought to brush up on those Wiki "research" skills too.

There are 2 functioning Lighthouses, regularly maintained (not by Taiwan or China) on the Senkakus.

Since seeing is believing, (or it should be):

"JAPAN: BUILDERS OF LIGHTHOUSE ON DIAOYU ISLANDS REFUSE TO LEAVE"

"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1WXOiezr68"

FYI, there are 2 of those structures on the Senkakus.

Who do you think maintains them?!

A border problem is indeed a very delicate one.

China claims the Senkaku Islands, called the Diaoyudaos in China, have been an integral part of China since ancient times. Japan stole them when China was weak, they say.

If that were true, China had every right to act as they are acting, sending coast guard ships, which will soon use live fire to force trespassing Japanese fishing boats off, to the Senkaku/Diaoyudao waters to safeguard its sovereignty.

There's a lot of room to dispute China's claim, though. I therefore suggest a conference or symposium be held either at an official or civilian level to further our mutual misunderstanding of the issue based on history and international law. This bickering over the islands must be stopped right away before it goes beyond anyone's control.

12 nm is the recognized limits of laws to internationally recognized land masses. China should learn that.

Fishing within the internationally recognized EEZ for any other country is also a violation. These aren't things that China gets to unilaterally decide. If the Chinese Coast Guard wants to sink NK fishing boats, fine.

If Japan has issues with China, hit them where it hurts. Ban entry to for the Olympics and invite Taiwan.

Correction:

There's a lot of room to dispute China's claim, though. I therefore suggest a conference or symposium be held either at an official or civilian level to further our mutual understanding of the issue based on history and international law. This bickering over the islands must be stopped right away before it goes beyond anyone's control.

rgcivilian1Jan. 24  04:28 pm JST

I have a question and greatly appreciated if someone can respond with a proper response?

If China as the article states has authorized the use of weaponized force against such claims in this case clearly Taiwan and the Senkakus, and if China does not recognize the San Francisco Treaty of 1945 or administrative control as ruled by International Board regarding of Senkakus which are a part of the Ryukyo Kingdom islets under Japan administration, then does this allow Japan to legally attack any country that does not recognize such treaty?

The San Francisco Treaty was 1951.

No, Japan can not legally attack, because the first paragraph of Article 9 prohibits Japan from using war as a means of settling disputes.

However, if China attacks or occupies the Senkakus, Japan has the right to defend it's territory and it will.

The United States recognizes that any attack on the Senkakus would invoke Article 5 of the US-JPN Defense Treaty so the invader would be starting a war with the United States.

Beijing wants to negotiate with Tokyo regarding the Senkaku/Diaoyudao issue. Tokyo, on its part, says there's nothing to negotiate with Beijing about it.

If the two governments can't negotiate, there should at least be a civilian-sponsored conference or symposium to address either side's misunderstanding of it if there is any.

China authorizing their Coast Guard to fire in connection with territorial disputes is nothing more than legitimizing their aggression towards their Asian neighbors whom they look down upon.

voiceofokinawaJan. 26  11:25 am JST

Beijing wants to negotiate with Tokyo regarding the Senkaku/Diaoyudao issue. Tokyo, on its part, says there's nothing to negotiate with Beijing about it.

I want to move into your home for free. Can we negotiate this?

Peeping Tom, you misunderstood my post above.

Rewriting it now with clauses reversed...

(even though there are the remains of a Japanese fishing community there), Japan did not build anything there, out of courtesy to Taiwan and China, wishing not to fan any warlike flames. Now China has again taken further advantage of this courtesy, interpreting it as weakness.

OssanAmerica (Jan. 27 | 05:57 pm JST),

Suppose you think my home is your home and I am illegally squatting there? Suppose there's misunderstanding on your part? Shouldn't there be any talk, either official or unofficial?