The Japan Coast Guard plans to launch 12 large patrol vessels by the end of fiscal 2023, and nine of them will be deployed to Kago-shima and Okinawa prefectures to strengthen security in the waters surrounding the Senkaku Islands, The Yomiuri Shimbun has learned.

 Six of the nine are 6,000 tons or more, putting them in the largest class of JCG vessels. The remaining three will be deployed to ports along the Sea of Japan where illegal fishing by North Korean fishing vessels is rampant.

 As a record number of Chinese government vessels have been navigating in the contiguous zone off the Senkakus in Okinawa Prefecture this year, the JCG is strengthening its system of security.

 It has increased the number of patrol vessels in recent years in the wake of repeated intrusions by Chinese government vessels into Japan’s territorial waters near the Senkakus and escalating illegal fishing by North Korean fishing boats surrounding Yamatotai, a rich fishing ground in the Sea of Japan.

 At the end of fiscal 2012, the JCG had 51 large patrol vessels, of 1,000 tons or more, whereas now it has 63 such vessels and plans to increase the number to 75 by the end of fiscal 2023.

 The waters around the Senkakus are regarded as the most important area for the deployment of those vessels.

 The number of 3,000-ton or heavier class Chinese government vessels intruding into Japanese territorial waters is increasing, but most of the vessels in charge of security at the forefront of the Senkakus issue on Ishigaki Island, Okinawa Prefecture, are 1,500 tons or so.

 It has been a challenge for the agency to steadily conduct operations using 6,000-ton or heavier vessels that can brave huge waves and strong winds.

 To cope with the situation, the agency has decided to deploy three vessels of more than 6,000 tons to Kago-shima Port and one vessel to Ishigaki Port from this month through fiscal 2021. According to sources, the agency is considering deploying two vessels of the same class and one vessel of the 3,500-ton class equipped with large machine guns to Kagoshima Port in fiscal 2023. The agency is also considering deploying two 3,500 ton-class vessels by fiscal 2022 to Miyako Island, Okinawa Prefecture.

 In addition, three 1,000-ton class vessels are planned to be deployed in the Sea of Japan from fiscal 2019 to 2022 to strengthen countermeasures against illegal fishing around Yamatotai. Tsuru-ga Port, Fukui Prefecture, is seen as a likely candidate for deployment.

Chinese vessels more active

 Relations between Japan and China have been positive in recent years, and Chinese President Xi Jinping is scheduled to visit Japan next spring.

 However, as of Tuesday, there had been 264 days of navigation this year in the contiguous zone of the Senkakus by Chinese government vessels, according to the JCG, exceeding the record of 243 days in 2014. From April to June, the number of consecutive days reached a record high of 64. The number of intrusions into Japanese territorial waters also increased to 29 as of Tuesday, from 19 last year, and is expected to exceed 30 for the first time in three years.

 A government official said, “Even if relations between Japan and China are improving, the Senkakus issue is another matter. We must remain vigilant.”