Japan continues to bolster its maritime law enforcement capabilities in the East China Sea.
Japan will strengthen training procedures for its coast guard to improve their ability to patrol its claimed waters in the East China Sea, where China claims maritime territory and islands administered by Japan.
The island is used by the Japan Coast Guard as a base to support operations and patrols in the East China Sea, including near the disputed Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands, which are claimed by both China and Japan.
Additionally, the Japan Coast Guard has increased the number of permanently stationed coast guard personnel on Miyako Island from 55 to 180 since the end of the 2015 fiscal year. It has also upgraded the status of the Miyako Coast Guard Office.
The move adds to a list of infrastructure improvements by the Japanese government to support both Japan Coast Guard and Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (MSDF) operations in the East China Sea, which has been identified by the Japanese Ministry of Defense as a major area of concern in recent defense white papers.
