Shohei Mitsuka 
An aerial shot of a large Chinese Coast Guard vessel in the South China Sea, January 13. (Courtesy of the Philippine Coast Guard via Kyodo)
February 1 marked four years since China enacted its Coast Guard Law, officially granting the China Coast Guard (CCG) the authority to use weapons.
Since then, the CCG has maintained a persistent presence around the Senkaku Islands in Ishigaki City, Okinawa Prefecture. It has also frequently employed intimidation tactics.
Around Taiwan, the CCG has intensified joint operations with the People's Liberation Army. In the South China Sea, it has ramped up pressure on the Philippines while closely monitoring the United States' position under the Trump administration.
Chinese government vessels were spotted near the Senkaku Islands on 355 days in 2024. This marked the highest annual count since Japan nationalized the islands in 2012.
China has also expanded its fleet. For the first time, in June 2024, four vessels equipped with autocannons simultaneously entered Japan's territorial waters.
Military Cooperation
China's Coast Guard Law took effect on February 1, 2021. The law states its purpose as "protecting national sovereignty, security, and maritime rights and interests." It explicitly calls for greater military cooperation.
Chinese officials have stated that the law gives CCG the authority to conduct law enforcement operations to safeguard China's jurisdictional waters, including the airspace above them.
Since 2018, the CCG has operated under the Central Military Commission, China's top military authority. This has accelerated its transformation into a "second navy."
The CCG's coordination with the Chinese military has continued to expand. During large-scale military exercises encircling Taiwan in May and October 2024, the CCG conducted training and patrols alongside the military. It is expected to support Beijing's military operations in the event of an invasion, such as by preventing foreign cargo ships from docking in Taiwan.
Escalating Tensions with the Philippines
Currently, the China Coast Guard is focusing its operations against the Philippines, which has territorial disputes with Beijing in the South China Sea. In 2024, a Chinese vessel fired a high-pressure water cannon at a Philippine ship, injuring its crew.
In January 2025, the large CCG vessel Haijing 5901 entered the Philippines' exclusive economic zone (EEZ), prompting a protest from the Philippine government on January 13.
Measuring 165 meters in length and displacing 12,000 tons, Haijing 5901 is known as the "Monster Ship." Beijing appeared to be applying pressure on the Philippines ahead of Donald Trump's inauguration on January 20.
Now, China continues to use a combination of hard and soft tactics to undermine US and allied cooperation in the East and South China Seas.
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(Read the article in Japanese.)
Author: Shohei Mitsuka, The Sankei Shimbun
