China Coast Guard ships sail via Japan-administered Senkaku Islands

A China Coast Guard ship formation handed via the waters of the Senkaku Islands on Sunday (November 16, 2025) on a “rights enforcement patrol,” the China Coast Guard stated in a press release, as Beijing ramps up tensions with Japan over its Prime Minister’s remarks on Taiwan.

A diplomatic spat between China and Japan has intensified since Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi instructed Parliament on November 7 {that a} hypothetical Chinese assault on democratically-ruled Taiwan might set off a army response from Tokyo.

The remarks sparked an offended response from Beijing, which has signalled that it expects Ms. Takaichi to retract them in some vogue.

China claims Taiwan as its personal territory and has not dominated out using power to take management of the island. Taiwan’s authorities rejects Beijing’s sovereignty claims.

“China Coast Guard vessel 1307 formation performed patrols inside the territorial waters of the Diaoyu Islands. This was a lawful patrol operation performed by the China Coast Guard to uphold its rights and pursuits,” the assertion stated.

China and Japan have repeatedly confronted off across the Japan-administered islands, which Beijing calls Diaoyu and Tokyo calls the Senkaku.

The Japanese Embassy in Beijing didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.

In Taiwan, the Defence Ministry stated on Sunday morning (November 16, 2025) it had detected 30 Chinese army plane working across the island and 7 navy ships over the previous 24 hours. Late on Saturday (November 15, 2025), the Ministry stated China had been finishing up one other “joint fight patrol.”