Japan's security apparatus on edge as China ramps up activities near Taiwan

Abrupt appearance of a Chinese buoy in Japan's EEZ causing diplomatic friction

- Walter Sim

A Chinese buoy placed south of Yonaguni Island, Japan's westernmost point located just 111km from Taiwan, is now a simmering cause of diplomatic friction despite earlier signs of warming ties between Asia's two largest economies with a flurry of political and business exchanges.

Japan discovered the contentious float, installed without any prior notice, within its exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in December 2024, and has since been demanding its removal. Within its EEZ, Japan has exclusive rights for activities such as fishing and drilling.

China has refused to remove the buoy, arguing that it is legal and intended purely for meteorological observations.

Military experts say that such floating devices have the potential to be used for nefarious purposes, much like how the Chinese weather balloons were assessed by the US in 2023 to be spy balloons.

Data recorded by the buoy - such as the speed and direction of ocean currents, as well as water temperatures - could be exploited by the Chinese navy. The instrument could also be used for surveillance purposes.

While Japan argues that setting up structures within its EEZ without its consent is in violation of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, the area in question has overlapping claims by Japan, China and Taiwan.

Thus, China argues that structures - especially for scientific research - are "reasonable and legal".

Yet, its abrupt appearance - taken together with other recent actions by the People's Liberation Army (PLA) - has put Japan's security apparatus on edge across the Nansei Shoto south-western island chain that stretches 1,200km between the tip of Kyushu on Japan's mainland and Taiwan.

On Feb 26, China flew a reconnaissance and attack drone near the islands for the first time, prompting scrambles by the Air Self-Defence Force (ASDF).