Japan Coast Guard steps up surveillance against Chinese ships as drones begin full-scale operation over the Senkaku Islands

In response to frequent incursions by Chinese Coast Guard vessels into the territorial waters around the Senkaku Islands, the Japanese government has initiated the operation of the “SeaGuardian (MQ-9B),” an advanced unmanned aircraft deployed by the Japan Coast Guard for aerial surveillance. This move, disclosed by several sources on Japan-China relations on the 18th, aims to bolster security and monitoring capabilities in the expansive area covering approximately 4,740 square kilometers around the islands. Equipped with state-of-the-art radar and surveillance technology, the SeaGuardian complements existing patrol boats and manned aircraft to enhance overall surveillance efforts.

The presence of Chinese Coast Guard vessels around the Senkaku Islands has become a regular occurrence, with a record 355 days of navigation reported in 2024, the highest since Japan’s nationalization of the islands in 2012. Deploying the SeaGuardian underscores Japan’s firm stance against China’s unilateral attempts to alter the status quo in asserting sovereignty over the islands.

Since April, the SeaGuardian has conducted several flights over the Senkaku Islands, including Japanese airspace, for the purpose of monitoring and capturing images of the Chinese vessels. Japan is also considering issuing airborne withdrawal warnings to deter further incursions by Chinese vessels.