China’s Fishing Fleet: A Military Shadow Game Off Japan’s Coast
Satellite imagery captured thousands of Chinese fishing vessels in unusually dense, grid-like formations near Japanese-administered waters, a pattern distinct from typical fishing operations. This deployment, observed over several days in late January and early February, occurred in areas including the disputed waters around the Senkaku Islands. In response, Japanese authorities increased patrols and seized a Chinese vessel for violating fisheries law after it entered territorial waters, marking a significant enforcement action given the scale of the formations.
John Q. Hosedrinker