China-Japan relations are in turmoil again

(Baonghean) - In recent days, China-Japan relations have become tense again with a series of new moves. Japan has made accusations and even summoned the Chinese ambassador to clarify incidents such as China sending fishing boats near disputed islands or installing patrol radar on a natural gas platform in the East China Sea.

Analysts say there are many reasons for China to accelerate its actions in the East Sea at this time.

A Chinese Coast Guard vessel was seen in waters near disputed islands with Japan on August 6. Photo: Japan Times.

While driving the boat, install radar

China's recent actions in the East China Sea have forced Japan to take a strong stance. First of all, China has unusually increased the number of fishing boats and coast guard ships entering the area near the disputed islands in the East China Sea, which Japan controls and calls Senkaku, but China also claims sovereignty over and calls Diaoyu. Since August 5, Japan has criticized the entry of eight Chinese fishing boats and coast guard ships into Japanese territorial waters near Senkaku/Diaoyu. The Japanese Foreign Ministry immediately summoned Chinese Ambassador to Japan Cheng Yonghua to express a strong protest.

However, despite Japan's attitude, the next day - August 6, China sent 230 fishing boats and 7 coast guard ships to the contiguous area around the disputed Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands. Notably, according to Japan, some of these coast guard ships were equipped with guns. Notably, on August 7, the Japan Coast Guard (JCG) discovered 2 Chinese coast guard ships entering Japanese territorial waters around the Senkaku Islands. 7 other Chinese ships were also discovered at the same time in the contiguous area. In response to the incident, the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned officials from the Chinese Embassy in Japan to express their protest. Japanese Deputy Foreign Minister Shinsuke Sugiyama also handed over a protest note to Chinese Ambassador to Japan Cheng Yonghua, emphasizing that this maritime activity violated Japan's sovereignty and was "unacceptable".

Not only has China continuously sent an unusual number of fishing boats and coast guard ships into the East China Sea, it has also recently angered Japan by installing radar on a natural gas platform in the East China Sea, near the disputed area between the two sides. According to Japan, this radar equipment is often used on patrol ships and is not necessary for natural gas exploration activities. Therefore, Japan is concerned that China is intending to use this platform as a military reconnaissance station.

The Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands, which both Japan and China claim sovereignty over. Photo: Reuters.

Multi-dimensional calculation

In fact, China's recent actions in the East China Sea were predicted by observers. First of all, analysts commented that, taking place less than a month after the Arbitral Tribunal established under Annex 7 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea ruled in favor of the Philippines, China's provocative actions in the past few days in the East China Sea are actually a "flashing attack in the East" move. On the one hand, China wants public opinion to see that it does not care about the Arbitral Tribunal's ruling on the issues in the East China Sea. On the other hand, by turning to the East China Sea, China has also "angered" and "retaliated" Japan on a series of other issues.

Public opinion must have seen that China is “not happy” when its illegal and arrogant actions in the East Sea were pointed out in the Defense White Paper that Japan published last week. Even the government of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe reshuffled the cabinet and gave the position of Defense Minister to a “female general” with a very tough stance on territorial and historical disputes. Not only that, China is also worried about the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system signed by the US and South Korea. Data collected from this system was also shared by South Korea for the first time with Japan. Although the announced goal is to deal with the nuclear and missile threats of the DPRK, China is worried that all future activities of its military along the coast will be completely within the radar range of the THAAD system.

These are the "excuses" explaining why China has suddenly taken many provocative actions against Japan in the East China Sea in the past few days. However, will tensions increase further in the East China Sea and will China continue to provoke in the South China Sea this August? The answer is difficult to predict at this time. It can be seen that in September, China will host the G20 Summit in Hangzhou for the first time. There is no reason for China to "smear" its image right before such an important event. According to observers, the time after September until November, when the important presidential election in the US takes place, is the perfect time for China to continue to "take action" in both the South China Sea and the East China Sea. Because at that time, China will have finished organizing the G20, and at the same time, it will be a test for the future White House owner's pivot to Asia policy.

With such predictions, observers say that not only Japan but also countries in the region need to carefully monitor China's steps in the coming time to have appropriate countermeasures.

Phuong Hoa