On June 7, 2024, the Japan Broadcasting Corporation (NHK) reported that the Japan Coast Guard (JCG) is considering constructing its largest patrol vessel to date. This vessel will be able to carry numerous high-performance rubber boats and three helicopters, primarily for use in the Senkaku Islands area. It will also have the capability to command other patrol vessels and serve as a base for guarding the waters around the islands.
The plan for the new vessel includes handling situations in the waters around the islands, providing emergency transportation for residents, and responding to natural disasters. The proposed size of the vessel is expected to be a total length of 200 meters with a gross tonnage of about 30,000 tons, making it four times larger than the largest patrol vessel in the current JCG fleet. It is projected to be in service in the 2029 fiscal year, which is five years from now.
Recent incursions by China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels into the waters around the Senkaku Islands have become common. These vessels have been approaching and chasing Japanese fishing boats and navigating Japan’s contiguous zone. China not only asserts territorial rights over the islands but also intensifies its activities in the waters surrounding them.
The Chinese forces may potentially land on the Senkaku Islands in the future and might enforce Chinese laws and regulations against Japanese fishing boats. In response to these developments, the Japanese government approved the “National Security Strategy (NSS)” in December 2022 to strengthen national security capabilities.
The JCG is enhancing its maritime security system, and the construction of a new large patrol vessel is part of this effort. While China has significantly increased its number of large patrol vessels, Japan faces challenges in expanding its fleet at the same pace. The tensions over the Senkaku Islands are likely to persist, necessitating Japan’s commitment to strengthening its maritime law enforcement system.
TSURUTA Jun is an associate professor at Meiji Gakuin University.