Beijing-Tokyo distrust lingers as record number of Chinese ships seen near Diaoyu Islands

Experts say Prime Minister Abe and President Xi are carefully handling the situation on the disputed archipelago, known in Japan as the Senkaku Islands

But one side setting foot on the islands, or an accidental collision between the vessels in the waters surround them, are potential flashpoints

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A Japan Coast Guard vessel sails in front of one of the disputed islands in 2013. Photo: Reuters

Published: 7:00pm, 3 Dec 2019Updated: 11:09am, 4 Dec 2019

A record 998 Chinese government ships have been identified in waters close to disputed Japanese-held islands in the East China Sea in the first 11 months of the year, underlining the lingering distrust that exists between Tokyo and Beijing despite what appear to be improved bilateral relations.

The vessels were confirmed to be operating within the contiguous zone around the Diaoyu Islands – which Japan controls and knows as the Senkaku Islands – from January 1 to November 29, the Mainichi Shimbun newspaper reported.

That figure is up sharply from 2013, when there were a record 819 incursions into the contiguous zone, the 22km buffer zone that extends from the 22km-wide band of territorial waters immediately around the islands.

There were 615 Chinese government vessels recorded entering the contiguous zone in the first 11 months of 2018, and there were hopes the figure would once again decline as ties between the two governments warmed.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Chinese President Xi Jinping declared a “new era of Japan-China relations” at the G20 summit in Osaka in June. The two countries have also agreed to set up a military hotline to avert accidental clashes, and their naval forces took part in their first joint exercises in eight years in October. The visit by Xi scheduled for next spring is being portrayed as the clearest evidence yet of the improved relationship.