A Newsweek map shows five Chinese research vessels conducting surveys in Japan’s exclusive economic waters this year, alarming the U.S. treaty ally.
When reached for comment, the Consulate-General of Japan in Hong Kong referred Newsweek to remarks that then-Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya—who left the role on October 21—made last week. Iwaya said China must immediately stop conducting such activities without Tokyo’s consent.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Why It Matters
Operating the world’s largest fleet of research vessels, China could use oceanographic research to support its military by gathering critical data about the world’s oceans—an approach known as dual use—the Center for Strategic and International Studies said.
Japan and China have overlapping exclusive economic zones, or EEZs, in the East China Sea. While both countries have yet to delimit their EEZs, Tokyo has accused Beijing of accelerating development of natural resources in the disputed maritime area.
According to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, an EEZ extends up to 230 miles from the coastline, where the coastal state has sovereign rights to explore, exploit, conserve and manage resources, as well as jurisdiction over scientific research.
What To Know
Using data provided by the Japanese coast guard, a Newsweek map shows where Chinese research vessels were spotted conducting activities in Japan’s EEZ since May across the Philippine Sea and the East China Sea, which are marginal seas of the western Pacific.
The Jia Geng is the only Chinese research vessel tracked by the Japanese coast guard in the Philippine Sea near Okinotorishima, Japan’s southernmost island. The remaining vessels were observed transiting in the East China Sea, west of Japan’s Ryukyu Islands.
Japan’s four main islands and the outlying Ryukyu Islands form part of a north-south defensive line under the U.S. island chain strategy, which aims to contain China’s military activities in the western Pacific by using territories of the U.S. and its allies.
The four other Chinese vessels are the Hai Ke 001, the Haiyang Dizhi 9, the Xiang Yang Hong 22—which was reported twice by the Japanese coast guard—and the Tong Ji.
Japan’s Kyodo News reported on October 17 that the Xiang Yang Hong 22 was seen extending “pipeline-like objects” into waters while operating on the Japanese side of the geographical equidistance line between Japan and China in the East China Sea.
The Japanese coast guard said foreign oceanographic research ships must obtain consent from Tokyo before operating in Japan’s EEZ, and their activities must be consistent with the approved scope; otherwise, they will be viewed as “unusual behaviors.”
While China’s motives in deploying research ships to Japan’s EEZ remain unclear, Kyodo News said the vessels could be gathering intelligence for military operations, including studying ocean currents to support the Chinese navy’s submarine deployments.
“We are not in a position to explain what intentions the Chinese side may have. We will continue to take a calm and resolute approach to these activities,” Iwaya said on October 17, adding that Chinese research vessels “have become active recently.”
What People Are Saying
Then-Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya said at a news conference on October 17: “Each time such activities are confirmed, the Japan Coast Guard issues a demand for their suspension. In addition, through diplomatic channels in both Beijing and Tokyo, Japan lodges strong representations and protests, stating that maritime and scientific surveys conducted in our EEZ without Japan’s consent are unacceptable and must be immediately stopped.”
Guo Jiakun, a spokesperson for China’s Foreign Ministry, said at a news conference on August 26: “China is committed to comprehensively and effectively implementing the principled consensus on the East China Sea issue. This position has not changed. We hope Japan will work with China to play a constructive role in the early resumption of intergovernmental negotiations between the two countries.”
What Happens Next
China’s maritime research activities across the western Pacific are likely to continue. It remains unclear how Japan will enhance its response to safeguard its economic waters.
