China Coast Guard Patrols Inside Japan’s Economic Zone

Japan must now decide how to respond after China’s coast guard conducted a patrol inside waters that Tokyo claims as its exclusive economic zone (EEZ). A Japanese government spokesperson confirmed the operation, stating that Beijing exercised what it calls “jurisdiction” over the area. Under international law, an EEZ grants a coastal nation special rights over resources up to 200 nautical miles from its shore, but foreign vessels may still pass through. China has increasingly asserted its maritime claims in the region, often challenging Japan’s boundaries. Tokyo has not yet announced any specific countermeasures.