A vessel belonging to Japan Coast Guard. (Image via Wikimedia Commons)

Japan: Coast Guard may shoot foreign ships

A member of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) stated on Thursday that the Japanese Coast Guard can defend itself and fire even against foreign official vessels intending to go to Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea.

Previously, China already ratified a new law in early February that allows its Coast Guard to defend itself and fire against foreign official vessels threatening to enter the East CHINA Sea. The Japanese Government officials then explained their interpretation of the Chinese law to a panel of LDP members.

They said that now, it is justified for the Coast Guard to fire foreign vessels intending to land on the Senkaku Islands, considering it as a violent crime. Yet, using force against the foreign vessel is seen as a violation of Japan's pacifistic Constitution and defense-oriented policy. 

Therefore, the Japanese Government official also took the same decision, allowing the Japanese Coast Guard to fire at foreign official vessels. However, the firing is only meant as self-defense, emergency escape, or both.

Lately, there are concerns that Japan might not be able to take care of China's growing assertiveness around the islets in the East China Sea, claimed by both Japan (Senkaku) and China (Diaoyu). As a matter of fact, that was the first time the government officials talked about firing foreign vessels entering the restricted waters.

In 2020, the Chinese Coast Guard made their way to the Senkaku Islands twice a month. As the Chinese law has run into effect this February, the visit has been increased to twice a week. On Thursday, the Prime Minister of Japan, Yoshihide Suga, also stated his concern that the environment in the Indo-Pacific region is turning hotter. Yet, he did not mention "China".

Source: https://bit.ly/3qWc5rl