China Coast Guard: Repeated threatening against Japanese/Philippine fishing boats!
・China crosses the median line and threatens Japanese fishing boats
・China invades Philippine EEZ, uses water cannon
Summary from NHK article.
President Xi Jinping:
Last November, Xi Jinping inspected the headquarters of the “Civil Guard 2901”.
The crew of the vessel sailing in the East China Sea reported that “Xi Jinping received a direct report”.
1. China wants to strengthen surveillance of the East China Sea with the “Civil Guard 2901”.
2. China wants to increase its presence around the Senkaku Islands in Okinawa Prefecture.
Japan: Be wary of the “Civil Guard 2901”
China’s two largest vessels are the “Civil Guard 2901” and the “Civil Guard 5901”.
1. The China Coast Guard has two patrol boats of 10,000 tons each.
2. The two vessels will be tasked with surveillance missions in the East and South China Seas.
‘Haiji 2901’:
China has deployed the ‘Haiji 2901’ at its headquarters in the East China Sea.
It is 165m long, has a displacement of 10,000 tons, and is equipped with a 76mm cannon.
NHK analyzes the ship’s automatic identification system (AIS):
2021-2023:
The ‘Haiji 2901’ transmits its own position information while:
1. It sailed near the gas fields on the Japan-China median line in the East China Sea,
2. It was confirmed to occasionally sail beyond the median line.
April 2024:
It sailed approximately 80km off the coast of the Senkaku Islands in Okinawa Prefecture.
February 2024:
The China Coast Guard announced that it had conducted exercises in the waters around Kinmen Island.
Around that time, it was confirmed that the ship had sailed back and forth in the waters east of Dongyin Island (effectively controlled by Taiwan).
Philippines: Beware of ‘Civil Guard 5901’
The activities of ‘Civil Guard 5901’ in the South China Sea have been confirmed.
Philippine media reports:
On May 25th, the appearance of a monster ship attracted a great deal of attention.
‘Civil Guard 5901’ entered the Philippine EEZ and sailed through the waters of Scarborough Shoal.
Japan-Philippines-US Coast Guard Meeting:
On June 1st, a Japan-Philippines-US Coast Guard meeting was held in Singapore.
China’s intimidating behavior:
In March of this year, the China Coast Guard used a water cannon on a Philippine ship.
As a result, there were many injuries on the Philippine side.
Philippine Coast Guard: Chief Gaban
There are concerns that this will happen again in the future. The Philippines will closely monitor the movements of ‘Civil Guard 5901’.
1. The Philippine Coast Guard faces a problem of a shortage of patrol vessels.
2. The two vessels provided by Japan, each 97 meters long, are the largest.
Procurement of five large patrol vessels from Japan:
In May of this year, it was decided to procure five large vessels from Japan.
The rivalry between China and the Philippines will continue.
Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea:
In recent years, the China Coast Guard has deployed a large number of vessels to Second Thomas Shoal (which is under the effective control of the Philippines) and is active there.
The Philippines continues to maintain effective control:
1. In 1999, a Philippine warship ran aground on Second Thomas Shoal.
2. The Philippines regularly dispatches vessels to replenish water and food.
China opposes the Philippines’ effective control:
China opposes the effective control,
1. The Philippines supplies materials to warships under the pretext of repairing them.
2. China continues its obstruction activities to prevent the import of such materials.
Analysis by the US Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS):
Researcher Harrison Pretat:
China has expanded the number of ships it sends to the area.
The number of Chinese ships confirmed at Second Thomas Reef:
1. As of 2021, there was only an average of one ship.
2. As of 2023, the number has increased sharply to 13.9 ships.
Incident in early December 2023:
China sent 46 ships compared to the Philippines’ four.
This was clearly an obstruction of the Philippines’ activities.
Chinese ships used water cannons:
1. Chinese ships have also used water cannons since the end of 2021.
2. Together with the China Coast Guard, they have deployed a large number of fishing boats.
3. It has been pointed out that the aim is to destroy the Philippines’ effective control base.
4. Second Thomas Reef is a Chinese frontline base and is close to Mischief Reef.
If the Philippines loses control, China will occupy these waters semi-permanently.
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20240602/k10014468811000.html