Chinese mapping agency 12 March said surveyors will be sent to disputed Diaoyu/Senkaku islands when “time is appropriate”; Japan asked China to exercise restraint, not conduct land surveys. Presence of Chinese navy and maritime surveillance vessels off islands continued. Japanese Coast Guard 5 March seized Chinese ship fishing in its exclusive economic zone near islands. China 10 March announced merging of 4 maritime law enforcement agencies into National Ocean Administration, in move to enhance internal coordination, “better safeguard China’s maritime rights”. China 17 March appointed former ambassador to Japan Wang Yi as new FM. Japanese media 18 March reported Chinese military admitted Feb radar locking incident did happen; refuted by Beijing. Japanese PM Abe 17 March said Japan needs to increase its deterrence capabilities. Tokyo 13 March hosted defence dialogue with ASEAN calling for stronger security ties. U.S. 20 March said U.S. and Japan discussing worst-case contingency plans for retaking islands if China moves to seize them. U.S. 22 March said China will participate in U.S.-led Pacific Ocean naval exercises in 2014.

Japan 5 Feb lodged formal protest to China claiming Chinese frigate locked radar on Japanese naval vessel 30 and 19 Jan near disputed Diaoyu/Senkaku islands; China dismissed claim, U.S. stated support for Japanese protest.Parliamentary Secretary for Defence Masahisa Sato 12 Feb suggested establishing hotline with China to prevent further incidents. Japanese Defence Minister Onodera 14 Feb claimed Japan’s right to pre-emptive strikes in case of imminent threats. Japanese PM Abe and U.S. President Obama 22 Feb meeting in Washington reaffirmed security alliance. U.S., Japan and Australia 7 Feb held navy, air force drills in Western Pacific. Presence of Chinese navy and maritime surveillance vessels off islands continued. China VP Li Kegiang urged maritime surveillance staff intensify law enforcement in territorial sea to protect Chinese interests. Japanese defence ministry 28 Feb reported it sent fighter jets to head off Chinese govt plane flying toward disputed islands, Chinese plane changed course. Japan 22 Feb formally complained about Chinese buoys placed near disputed waters claiming they are used for submarine tracking; China dismissed claim.

Further increase in tensions over disputed Diaoyu/ Senkaku islands. Japan 10 Jan sent military reconnaissance aircraft to tail Chinese marine surveillance plane near islands; China responded sending 2 fighter jets near islands for first time. Japan 16 Jan suggested it may fire warning “tracer” shots against intruding aircraft that refuse to change course. Chinese foreign ministry said country on “high alert”, accused Japan of escalating tensions. Chinese fighter jets also shadowed 2 U.S. aircraft 10 Jan in airspace near Japan/China border. U.S. Sec State Clinton 18 Jan said area is under Japanese administration and thus protected under U.S.-Japan security treaty; 3 Chinese govt ships next day entered Japanese waters around islands. Japan 13 Jan held annual military drills, focused for first time on island defence; also announced first increase in defence budget for over a decade, said may deploy mobile radars near islands. Japanese delegation visited Beijing 22-26 Jan in bid to ease tensions; Japanese PM Abe 29 Jan suggested summit between China and Japan. Chinese govt ships again entered Japanese waters next day.

China’s State Oceanic Administration agency sent surveillance aircraft into airspace over Diaoyu/Senkaku islands, marking new stage in dispute over islands with air and sea patrols to challenge Japan’s de facto control. Japan responded by sending 8 fighter jets, made formal diplomatic protest; Japanese defence minister said this was first intrusion of Japanese airspace by China since 1958. China 13 Dec submitted to UN detailed claim to its continental shelf, opposed by Japan. China’s largest fishery patrol ship sent to patrol waters near islands. Shinzo Abe elected PM of Japan 26 Dec following Liberal Democratic Party landslide victory in Diet lower house elections 16 Dec; Abe seen as hawkish on territorial disputes, fuelling concern in region. U.S. Senate reaffirmed support to Japan over islands late Nov, sparking criticism from China.

Chinese patrol vessels continuing to carry out surveillance around disputed Diaoyu/Senkaku islands. U.S. delegation visited Tokyo and Beijing for high level talks in effort to reduce tensions.

Chinese, Japanese officials met mid-month to discuss dispute over Diaoyu/Senkaku islands. Chinese officials pulled out of IMF, World Bank annual meetings in Japan. Chinese patrol vessels entered waters near islands during month, 30 Oct confronted Japanese vessels. Chinese navy 19 Oct conducted exercises in East China Sea.

Tensions in East China Sea erupted into bilateral crisis between China and Japan over Diaoyu/Senkaku islands fol- lowing Japanese govt purchase of islands, which China also claims sovereignty over. Beijing retaliated by publishing territorial sea baselines encircling islands, deploying patrol vessels and fishing boats to disputed waters, staging large-scale military exercises, threatening economic punishment. Mass anti-Japan protests erupted in dozens of Chinese cities, some turning violent. Tourist agencies across China cancelled trips to Japan; high-level event celebrating 40 years of Japan-China diplomatic ties cancelled. Deputy FMs met in Beijing to discuss tensions, but no sign of end to problems. Dozens of fishing boats from Taiwan, which also claims islands, sailed into disputed waters under protection of Taiwanese patrol vessels; Japan Coast Guard vessels repelled them with water cannons.