USA, Japan, Taiwan und Korea vs. China

[Quintus Fabius]

Der nächste kleine Dominostein:

https://warisboring.com/japan-wary-of-po...itime-law/

Japan wary of possible escalation by China under new maritime law

China’s maritime police law, which allows its coast guard vessels to use weapons if the country’s sovereignty is deemed to have been infringed, comes into force Monday.

China claims sovereignty over the Senkaku Islands in Okinawa Prefecture, and might apply the law to Japan Coast Guard patrol vessels and fishing boats sailing near the islands, raising alarm among people concerned. On the morning of Jan. 21, a day before the Standing Committee of China’s National People’s Congress passed the maritime police bill into law, Kenichi Sasaki, the 57-year-old captain of the Izena, an Ishigaki Coast Guard Office patrol vessel tasked with defending the Senkaku Islands, urged crew members to stay alert. “China could change its actions,” Sasaki said. “Stay vigilant in order to respond to any situations that may arise.” Last year, the China Coast Guard engaged in the provocative action of entering the contiguous zone, which is located just outside Japan’s territorial waters, on a record high of 333 days.

Six vessels with newly identified numbers on their hulls have been also confirmed. The Chinese fleet usually operates in a four-ship formation. The Izena, which is 96 meters long and weighs 1,500 tons, is equipped with a 20mm cannon. In contrast, the China Coast Guard appears to be building up its capabilities through such means as deploying large, 10,000-ton-level patrol vessels. Some of its ships are said to be equipped with 76mm cannons, which are equivalent to those of the Chinese Navy.