Takaichi Pledges to Safeguard Japan’s Territorial Waters
“The security environment in the maritime areas surrounding Japan is becoming increasingly severe,” Takaichi said, according to a statement released by her office.
“We held the ministerial council on the strengthening of the maritime security capabilities and confirmed our commitment, in order to resolutely defend Japan’s territory and territorial waters, to strengthen large patrol vessel capabilities, enhance coordination between the Japan Coast Guard and the Ministry of Defense and the Self-Defense Forces, and improve the working environment and treatment of Japan Coast Guard officers,” she added.
The remarks followed claims by Tokyo earlier this month that Chinese J-15 fighter jets launched from the aircraft carrier Liaoning locked radar onto two Japanese F-15s while operating over international waters southeast of Okinawa’s main island.
China rejected the accusation, describing the maneuvers as “professional, secure, restrained, and beyond dispute,” and saying it is “common practice” for carrier-based aircraft to activate radar systems during training exercises.
Strains between Japan and China have mounted since Nov. 7, when Takaichi said a potential Chinese assault on Taiwan could legally amount to a “survival-threatening situation,” opening the door for Japan to invoke collective self-defense.
That statement drew a sharp response from Beijing, which urged its citizens to avoid travel to Japan and reinstated a ban on Japanese seafood imports, among other punitive measures.
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