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China says it patrolled the Diaoyu (Senkaku) Islands’ territorial waters ‘in a lawful mission’ to defend national sovereignty. File
| Photo Credit: AP
A China Coast Guard ship formation passed through the waters of the Senkaku Islands on Sunday (November 16, 2025) on a “rights enforcement patrol,” the China Coast Guard said in a statement, 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 told Parliament on November 7 that a hypothetical Chinese attack on democratically-ruled Taiwan could trigger a military response from Tokyo.
The remarks sparked an angry response from Beijing, which has signalled that it expects Ms. Takaichi to retract them in some fashion.
China claims Taiwan as its own territory and has not ruled out the use of force to take control of the island. Taiwan’s government rejects Beijing’s sovereignty claims.
“China Coast Guard vessel 1307 formation conducted patrols within the territorial waters of the Diaoyu Islands. This was a lawful patrol operation conducted by the China Coast Guard to uphold its rights and interests,” the statement said.
China and Japan have repeatedly faced off around the Japan-administered islands, which Beijing calls Diaoyu and Tokyo calls the Senkaku.
The Japanese Embassy in Beijing did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
In Taiwan, the Defence Ministry said on Sunday morning (November 16, 2025) it had detected 30 Chinese military aircraft operating around the island and seven navy ships over the past 24 hours. Late on Saturday (November 15, 2025), the Ministry said China had been carrying out another “joint combat patrol.”
Published – November 16, 2025 10:34 pm IST
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China Coast Guard ships sail through Japan-administered Senkaku Islands
