China and Japan issued sharply conflicting reports on Tuesday following a maritime standoff near a cluster of hotly disputed islands in the East China Sea.
According to China’s Coast Guard, a Japanese fishing vessel “illegally intruded” into the waters surrounding the Diaoyu Islands—territory Beijing claims despite Japan maintaining administrative control and referring to the area as the Senkaku Islands.
Japan’s Coast Guard, however, countered that it had intervened to protect the fishing boat after two Chinese Coast Guard ships entered Japanese waters. The Japanese patrol vessel reportedly escorted the fishing crew until the Chinese ships withdrew several hours later.
The encounter adds fuel to already deteriorating relations between the two Asian powers. Diplomatic tensions have escalated rapidly since Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi hinted last month that Tokyo could consider military action if China moved against Taiwan. Beijing, which views Taiwan as its own territory, condemned the remarks and has stepped up its rhetoric in response.
In a statement carried by Chinese state media, China Coast Guard spokesperson Liu Dejun accused Japan of “provocation” and defended China’s actions as “necessary law enforcement measures.” He insisted the Diaoyu Islands were “inherently Chinese territory” and demanded that Japan halt all “infringing activities.”
Japan’s account painted a different picture, saying its forces acted only after Chinese vessels entered Japanese waters in the early hours of Tuesday. Officials said the priority was safeguarding the fishing crew while demanding the Chinese ships leave the area.
The uninhabited islands remain a long-standing flash point in the East China Sea. Despite a 2008 agreement to jointly explore resources, China has intensified its maritime presence over the past decade. Last year saw a record number of Chinese government vessels operating in the contested waters, according to Japanese authorities.
Before this latest confrontation, Chinese ships were last reported in the area on November 16, during what Beijing described as a routine patrol to “uphold its rights and interests.”