Japan has expressed deep concern over the extended incursion of Chinese Coast Guard vessels near the disputed Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea. This incident marks one of the longest intrusions into Japan’s territorial waters. The Chinese ships, which assert Beijing’s claim over the islands, finally departed on Monday night after remaining in the area for 92 hours and 8 minutes. Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya emphasised the increasing frequency of such incursions, warning that the situation is “clearly escalating.” His remarks followed reports from Kyodo News that Chinese Coast Guard vessels had been operating in Japanese waters since early Friday.

During a meeting in Tokyo on Saturday, Iwaya conveyed Japan’s concerns to Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. While describing the discussions as “conciliatory and friendly,” he criticised the Chinese intrusion during the diplomatic talks, calling it “truly regrettable.” In Japan, opposition lawmakers condemned the incident, with one leader calling it “extremely inappropriate” given the timing of the high-level meeting. In response, Iwaya assured Japan would address the situation “in a resolute and calm manner.”

The Senkaku Islands, called Diaoyu by China and Diaoyutai by Taiwan, have been a long-standing point of contention. Though they are under Japan’s administration, their strategic significance stems from their location near key shipping routes, abundant fishing waters, and possible oil reserves. Given Japan's role as a close US ally, the dispute is also tied to broader geopolitical tensions between China and the US.

Japan insists there is no agreement with China to “shelve” the dispute over the Senkaku Islands. It also argues that China’s actions, including sending ships into the area since 2008, contradict any idea of a mutual understanding or compromise on the issue.