Overview
- The Xiang Yang Hong 22, a Chinese research vessel, operated inside Japan's exclusive economic zone near the uninhabited Senkaku Islands.
- Japan's coast guard said the ship lowered pipe-like gear from its sides and a wire-like line from its stern into the sea.
- A Japanese patrol radioed the vessel and told the crew to stop because Japan had not given consent for scientific research there.
- The coast guard continues to track the ship's movements, saying the activity looks like a survey but its exact purpose is unclear.
- Local fishing boats often face run-ins in these waters, and Japan logged 27 Chinese coast guard entries into its territorial sea in 2025.