China Coast Guard Expels Japanese Fishing Boat from Disputed Diaoyu Islands

The China Coast Guard expelled a Japanese fishing boat, the Shishi, after it entered the territorial waters of Diaoyu Dao on May 26, 2026. Coast Guard spokesperson Jiang Lue stated that vessels took necessary measures to warn and remove the boat in accordance with the law. The agency asserted that Diaoyu Dao and its affiliated islands are inherent Chinese territory and demanded that Japan cease all provocative acts and rights-violations in the area. The China Coast Guard announced it will continue law enforcement and rights-protection operations to safeguard China's maritime interests and sovereignty.

The Shishi had previously intruded in the same waters exactly one year earlier, underscoring a recurring pattern. Dozens of such incidents occur annually, a trend that has persisted since Japan nationalized the islands in 2012. The expulsion comes as Japan revises its National Security Strategy and increases defense measures for its southwestern islands, adding a broader strategic dimension to the longstanding territorial dispute. China maintains that the Diaoyu Islands are its inherent territory and asserts that such infringements will not be tolerated.