Japan Lodges Protest Over Chinese Vessels Near Disputed Islands

Incursions mark first time in months, raising tensions in Sino-Japanese relations

Apr. 17, 2026 at 5:53am by

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A serene, photorealistic painting of a solitary Chinese coast guard ship resting in the calm waters of the East China Sea, its hull and superstructure cast in warm, golden light and deep, dramatic shadows, evoking a sense of quiet tension and unease.The persistent presence of Chinese government vessels near the disputed Senkaku Islands continues to strain relations between Beijing and Tokyo.San Francisco Today

The Japanese government has lodged a formal protest with China over recent activities by Chinese government vessels near the disputed Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea, according to Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The incursions marked the first time Chinese government vessels had entered Japan's territorial waters around the Senkakus since December 2023, ending a brief period of de-escalation following high-level talks between Japanese and Chinese leaders.

Why it matters

The latest flare-up occurs amid broader strains in Sino-Japanese relations, including disagreements over Japan's discharge of treated radioactive water from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant and competing influence in Southeast Asia. The dispute over the Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands remains a core sovereignty issue that neither side has shown willingness to compromise on.

The details

On April 10, 2024, Japan's Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa summoned China's ambassador to Tokyo, Wu Jianghao, to express strong concern after multiple Chinese coast guard ships entered Japan's territorial waters around the islands on April 8 and 9. Japan's Coast Guard reported that four Chinese coast guard vessels remained in the contiguous zone just outside Japan's territorial waters for over 70 hours before departing on April 10. During the incursion, Japanese authorities issued repeated warnings in Japanese, English, and Chinese via radio and loudspeaker, demanding the vessels leave immediately.

  • On April 8 and 9, 2024, Chinese coast guard ships entered Japan's territorial waters around the Senkaku Islands.
  • On April 10, 2024, the incursions ended after the Chinese vessels had remained in the contiguous zone for over 70 hours.
  • On April 10, 2024, Japan's Foreign Minister summoned China's ambassador to lodge a formal protest.

The players

Yoko Kamikawa

Japan's Foreign Minister who summoned China's ambassador to lodge a formal protest.

Wu Jianghao

China's ambassador to Tokyo who was summoned by Japan's Foreign Minister.

Fumio Kishida

Japanese Prime Minister who held high-level talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping in November 2023.

Xi Jinping

Chinese President who held high-level talks with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in November 2023.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident

What’s next

Japan's National Security Secretariat has confirmed that senior officials will review the situation at its next scheduled meeting on April 18, 2024, though no public agenda has been released.

The takeaway

The latest incidents highlight the persistent tensions and lack of progress in resolving the long-standing dispute over the Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands, which remains a major flashpoint in Sino-Japanese relations. Both sides appear unwilling to compromise on their core sovereignty claims, raising the risk of further escalation if diplomatic efforts fail to establish guardrails and manage the situation.