Escalation fears rise in Japan following Chinese moves near Senkakus

A Japan Coast Guard vessel sails in front of Uotsuri island, one of the Japanese-controlled Senkaku Islands. Concerns are growing in Tokyo after a Chinese government helicopter violated Japan's airspace around the uninhabited islets. | REUTERS

by JESSE JOHNSON
May 10, 2025

Concerns are growing in Tokyo after a Chinese government helicopter violated Japan's airspace around the Senkaku Islands, following a flight by a small Japanese civilian plane in the area and as Beijing sent government ships to the waters near the uninhabited islets in the East China Sea for more than 170 straight days.

On May 3, a China Coast Guard helicopter entered Japan’s territorial airspace around the Japanese-controlled, Chinese-claimed Senkaku Islands — marking just the fourth such incursion by a Chinese aircraft and first by a helicopter, according to the Defense Ministry.

As of Saturday, the Chinese side also had sent government ships to the area for 173 consecutive days.