The China Coast Guard (CCG) has significantly escalated its maritime presence around the Diaoyu Islands, conducting 134 patrol missions within the territorial waters since 2021. Recent operational data reveals an exceptionally high tempo of patrol activities throughout 2025, with vessels deployed for rights protection and sovereignty enforcement missions on 357 days during the year.
Over the past five years, the coast guard has demonstrated substantial operational capability through the deployment of approximately 550,000 ship sorties and 6,000 aircraft missions dedicated to maritime rights protection. These persistent patrol operations represent China’s determined efforts to reinforce its territorial claims and maintain constant presence in the contested waters.
The intensified patrol schedule coincides with ongoing regional tensions regarding maritime sovereignty in the East China Sea. The Diaoyu Islands, known as the Senkaku Islands in Japan, have been subject to longstanding territorial disputes between China and Japan, with both nations asserting historical claims to the strategically significant archipelago.
China’s coast guard operations have evolved significantly in recent years, with enhanced vessel capabilities and increased operational range enabling more sustained presence missions. The reported patrol statistics demonstrate Beijing’s commitment to advancing its maritime interests through continuous law enforcement presence rather than intermittent demonstrations of sovereignty.