Press Releases

1. Despite Japan’s repeated protests, while thirteen Chinese government vessels have not exited Japan’s contiguous zone surrounding the Senkaku Islands, yesterday, August 7, Chinese government vessels intruded into Japan’s territorial waters surrounding the Senkaku Islands at approximately 5:30 pm, 6:40 pm and 9:00 pm (details below).

2. Against this backdrop, on two occasions, at approximately 8:10 pm and 9:20 pm, Mr. Kimihiro Ishikane, Deputy Vice-Minister for Foreign Policy & Director-General, Foreign Policy Bureau, strongly protested against Ms. Guo Yan, Minister, Embassy of China in Japan, that the intrusion of Chinese government vessels into Japan’s territorial waters surrounding the Senkaku Islands is a violation of Japan’s sovereignty and that it cannot be approved whatsoever, and despite Japan’s repeated strong protests, that China’s unilateral activities that further raise tensions on the ground, including repeated intrusions into Japan’s territorial waters, cannot be accepted whatsoever, and requested that Chinese government vessels leave Japan’s territorial waters, as well as leave Japan’s contiguous zone immediately.

3. Furthermore, at approximately 11:15 pm on the same day, Mr. Kenji Kanasugi, Director-General, Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau, made a further strong protest against Minister Yan that despite Japan’s repeated strong protests, China’s unilateral activities that further raise tensions on the ground are entirely unacceptable, and that Chinese government vessels should leave Japan’s contiguous zone.