For fear of provoking China, the national government in Tokyo wouldn’t allow onshore surveys despite environmental degredation of the Senkaku Islands.
Four Chinese ships entered the area while the Senkaku Islands survey was in progress, forcing the Japan Coast Guard to surround and protect the research vessel.
These days, Hitoshi Nakama’s fishing boat is shadowed by a Chinese Coast Guard empowered by a new Chinese law that authorizes shooting at foreign vessels.
