China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) and China Coast Guard (CCG) conducted unprecedented joint maneuvers near the Miyako Strait and the disputed Senkaku Islands last December.
According to multiple Japanese government sources, the operations included heavily armed coast guard vessels and naval frigates in a display of coordinated maritime capabilities.
On December 22, a PLAN fleet comprising two Type 054A frigates, one Type 054 frigate, and three CCG ships, including the massive 10,000-ton “2901” vessel, navigated through the Miyako Strait from the Pacific Ocean to the East China Sea. Analysts believe these movements simulate scenarios of maritime blockades, a critical strategy in potential Taiwan contingencies.
The “2901,” one of the largest law enforcement vessels globally, was accompanied by coast guard ships armed with 76mm cannons—marking a shift toward heavier armament among Chinese maritime enforcement assets. These ships reportedly collaborated with PLAN vessels during maneuvers, a development described by government officials as “a unique and provocative demonstration.”
China’s maneuvers align with broader strategies of maritime dominance and could signal an expansion of blockade operations beyond Taiwan to include Japan’s southern islands. Analysts caution that Beijing’s moves may indicate its intent to extend operational reach into the East China Sea, particularly around the Senkaku Islands, administered by Japan but claimed by China as the Diaoyu Islands.
During the joint transit through the Miyako Strait, Automatic Identification System (AIS) data revealed that the CCG vessels turned off their transponders near the disputed islands, a tactic commonly used by military assets to conceal activities.
Last December, four heavily armed Chinese coast guard ships operated in Japan’s contiguous waters near the Senkaku Islands. This marks the first confirmed instance of an entire fleet equipped with 76mm cannons patrolling the area.
Chinese coast guard ships gained authorization to use weapons in defense of national sovereignty under the 2021 Coast Guard Law, which explicitly ties the CCG to the Central Military Commission. This legal framework has effectively transformed the CCG into what some experts refer to as “a second navy.”
The shift comes as Taiwan’s Vice President Lai Ching-te, whom Beijing views as a separatist, assumed office in May 2022. Experts suggest that China’s increased assertiveness is linked to its concerns about growing international recognition of Taiwan’s sovereignty.
The Japanese government has expressed concern over the escalating military capabilities of Chinese vessels operating near its waters. While Japan’s Coast Guard vessels are equipped with 40mm cannons with a range of approximately 5 kilometers, the Chinese 76mm cannons boast three times the range, posing a significant challenge to Japanese maritime defense.
Observers note that China’s recent moves, including these joint maneuvers and the expansion of armed coast guard deployments, could normalize aggressive posturing near Taiwan and Japan.