Four Chinese coastguard vessels sailed around the Diaoyu Islands in the East China Sea on Saturday, the country’s maritime authorities have revealed. The operation took place a week after US President Donald Trump committed to the US-Japan security treaty covering the Chinese islands.
China’s State Oceanic Administration did not give further details on the patrol.
China’s State Oceanic Administration reveals the patrol around the Diaoyu Islands on February 18, 2017. /Xinhua Photo
Japanese Coast Guard confirmed that the Chinese ships started cruising around the uninhabited islands at around 10 a.m. and left over an hour and a half later.
A statement released by the White House on February 10 said that Trump assured visiting Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe that Article 5 of the US-Japan Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security covers the Diaoyu Islands.
Beijing immediately rejected the premise. “No rhetoric or actions, from whomsoever, will change the fact that Diaoyu Dao belongs to China,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang reiterated on February 13.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang responds to US-Japan joint statement on February 13, 2017. /MOFA Photo
This is the fifth time that Chinese vessels have patrolled the islands this year, and the second time in February. The last patrol was on February 6, days after US Defense Secretary James Mattis vowed to defend Tokyo in accordance with the bilateral military deal.
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