‘Two-Faced Diplomacy’: China Pledges Peace Before Chasing Down Japan’s Fishing Boat
The event sparked online outrage in Japan, leading to calls for more stringent measures against China’s ‘authoritarian breaches of international law’.
Beijing has been accused of “two-faced diplomacy” after pledging greater dialogue and cooperation during high-level talks in Tokyo on Saturday, only for three Chinese coastguard vessels to enter waters around Japanese-controlled islands the next day, pursuing a Japanese fishing boat.
Japan
Japan’s Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya expressed optimism after the trilateral meeting with his Chinese and South Korean counterparts on Saturday. He characterized the talks as “an open exchange of opinions” and stated that the three countries agreed to “foster forward-looking collaboration.”
Chinese Foreign Minister
Wang Yi
seemed to concur, stating in a release that improved dialogue and teamwork could assist the trio of countries in “collectively combating threats” and boosting their reciprocal comprehension.
Contemplating the worldwide issues that had drawn Japan, China, and
South Korea
To “a pivotal moment in history,” Iwaya stressed the importance of bridging divides on Saturday. He stated, “Now more than ever, it is crucial to strive to transcend division and conflict via dialogue and collaboration.”
But the goodwill generated by these statements quickly began to evaporate when, less than 24 hours later, Chinese coastguard vessels entered waters near the
Diaoyu Islands
. The islands, administered by Japan as the Senkakus but claimed by China, have long been a flashpoint in the region.
Experts noted that the coast guard’s behavior contradicted the cooperative ethos promoted during negotiations and reflected China’s diplomatic style—presenting itself as collaborative externally while reinforcing territorial assertions in disputed regions.
Many individuals express pessimism following China’s statements and ensuing activities; however, few are truly taken aback,” noted Ryo Hinata-Yamaguchi, an associate professor at Tokyo International University’s Institute for International Strategy, in conversation with This Week in Asia. “Those who find themselves shocked by these developments lack perceptiveness.
Hinata-Yamaguchi described Beijing’s strategy as “showing a pleasant facade” publicly while aggressively reinforcing its territorial assertions. He explained, “Although they claim benign intent in diplomatic circles, their deeds convey a different message.”
‘Sink ships, arrest trespassers’
The events over the weekend sparked significant anger online in Japan, where people were not just upset about China’s behavior but also criticized their own government for what they saw as inadequate response. In comments on Okinawa’s Yaeyama Daily News website, one user condemned Beijing’s approach, calling it “duplicitous diplomacy.”
The commenter proceeded to assert that the Japanese government was being “duped” and cautioned that Japan might relinquish control over the contested islands if it persisted in trusting China.
“One cannot condone China’s oppressive breaches of international law,” stated an online remark. Other comments urged Tokyo to take more stringent actions, with some users advocating for legal amendments allowing Japan to “submerge vessels, detain intruders, and prosecute them in courts.”
“The Japanese government just gives warnings without taking action, allowing China to act as they please,” the commentator noted.
Toshimitsu Shigemura, a professor of political science and international relations at Waseda University, noted that there was significant distrust toward Beijing within the Japanese government. He explained, “Their statements often contradict their actions.” This sentiment was further illustrated when, on the very day that the foreign minister expressed his desire for collaboration to maintain regional stability, the Chinese coast guard entered Japanese territorial waters and intimidated a fishing vessel.
“We can’t rely on China to keep its diplomatic commitments,” Shigemura stated, suggesting that this indicates possible tensions within the Chinese administration.
He suggested that the defense ministry might have feared the foreign minister could travel to Tokyo and reach an agreement with Japan that would undermine China’s territorial assertions over those islands. However, by dispatching coast guard vessels into Japanese maritime areas concurrently with discussions between the two counterparts, they are essentially conveying the stance held by the defense ministry.
In recent years, Chinese coast guard ships have been increasingly venturing into Japanese territorial waters more often, a trend that has become particularly noticeable over the last ten years.
A remarkable 353 days of operation were logged.
In the contiguous zones surrounding the islands earlier this year. Experts think these moves are intended to challenge Japan’s authority over the contested area.
Shigemura cautioned that Beijing might intensify the pressure even more, which would leave Japan few choices if a Japanese fishing vessel were to be forcefully halted or seized by China’s maritime police.
In a dire scenario like that, Tokyo has limited options,” he stated. “Force isn’t an option for them, so their main leverage would be threatening to withhold support. Under these circumstances, I anticipate Tokyo might propose resolving the issue via talks and discussions; however, China could interpret this stance as a sign of weakness.
“I anticipate that China will continue exerting pressure around the islands since their ultimate aim is to attempt gaining control over the entire archipelago,” Shigemura noted.
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