{"id":2432,"date":"2024-12-30T00:00:39","date_gmt":"2024-12-29T15:00:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rips.or.jp\/en\/?page_id=2432"},"modified":"2025-02-28T08:24:39","modified_gmt":"2025-02-27T23:24:39","slug":"vol-12-december-30-2024","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.rips.or.jp\/en\/newsletter\/vol-12-december-30-2024\/","title":{"rendered":"Vol.12, December 30, 2024"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"l-container\">\n<div class=\"l-post-content\">\n<style>\nbody {\n    width: 100%;\n    height: 100%;\n    margin: 0;\n    padding: 0;\n    background-color: #fafafa;\n}\nh1, h2, h3, h4, th, td, p, div {\n    font-family: \"Helvetica\", sans-serif;\n}\ntable tr, table th, table td {\n    border: none;\n    padding: 0;\n    margin: 0;\n    font-weight: normal;\n}\n.c-table, .l-post-content table, #tinymce.post-type-post table, #tinymce.post-type-page table, #tinymce.post-type-symposium table, #tinymce.post-type-rips_eye table, #tinymce.post-type-activity_report table, #tinymce.post-type-monthly_seminar table, #tinymce.post-type-corporate_seminar table, #tinymce.post-type-research table, #tinymce.post-type-president_column table, #tinymce.post-type-tinymcetemplates table {\n    border: none;\n    padding: 0;\n    margin: 0;\n}\n.c-table > thead > tr > th, .l-post-content table > thead > tr > th, #tinymce.post-type-post table > thead > tr > th, #tinymce.post-type-page table > thead > tr > th, #tinymce.post-type-symposium table > thead > tr > th, #tinymce.post-type-rips_eye table > thead > tr > th, #tinymce.post-type-activity_report table > thead > tr > th, #tinymce.post-type-monthly_seminar table > thead > tr > th, #tinymce.post-type-corporate_seminar table > thead > tr > th, #tinymce.post-type-research table > thead > tr > th, #tinymce.post-type-president_column table > thead > tr > th, #tinymce.post-type-tinymcetemplates table > thead > tr > th, .c-table > tbody > tr > th, .l-post-content table > tbody > tr > th, #tinymce.post-type-post table > tbody > tr > th, #tinymce.post-type-page table > tbody > tr > th, #tinymce.post-type-symposium table > tbody > tr > th, #tinymce.post-type-rips_eye table > tbody > tr > th, #tinymce.post-type-activity_report table > tbody > tr > th, #tinymce.post-type-monthly_seminar table > tbody > tr > th, #tinymce.post-type-corporate_seminar table > tbody > tr > th, #tinymce.post-type-research table > tbody > tr > th, #tinymce.post-type-president_column table > tbody > tr > th, #tinymce.post-type-tinymcetemplates table > tbody > tr > th, .c-table > tbody > tr > td, .l-post-content table > tbody > tr > td, #tinymce.post-type-post table > tbody > tr > td, #tinymce.post-type-page table > tbody > tr > td, #tinymce.post-type-symposium table > tbody > tr > td, #tinymce.post-type-rips_eye table > tbody > tr > td, #tinymce.post-type-activity_report table > tbody > tr > td, #tinymce.post-type-monthly_seminar table > tbody > tr > td, #tinymce.post-type-corporate_seminar table > tbody > tr > td, #tinymce.post-type-research table > tbody > tr > td, #tinymce.post-type-president_column table > tbody > tr > td, #tinymce.post-type-tinymcetemplates table > tbody > tr > td {\n    border: none;\n    padding: 0;\n    margin: 0;\n}\nhr, .hr {\n    border: none;\n    border-bottom: 1px solid #000;\n    margin-left: 0;\n    margin-right: 0;\n    max-width: none;\n    margin-top: 10px;\n    margin-bottom: 10px;\n}\ncenter {\n    word-break: break-all;\n}\ncenter .table-base {\n    border-collapse: collapse;\n    height: 100%;\n    margin: 0;\n    padding: 0;\n    width: 100%;\n    background-color: #fafafa;\n}\ncenter .table-inner {\n    border-collapse: collapse;\n    border: 0;\n    width: 100%;\n    max-width: 600px;\n}\ncenter img {\n    width: 100%;\n    max-width: 100%;\n    height: auto;\n}\ncenter ul {\n    display: block;\n}\ncenter li {\n    display: block;\n}\n<\/style>\n<p><center><\/p>\n<table border=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" style=\"max-width:450.0pt;border-collapse:collapse; background-color: #FFFFFF;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" style=\"padding:6.75pt 0mm 0mm 0mm;background:cover no-repeat rgb(255,255,255)\">\n<table border=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" width=\"100%\" style=\"width:100.0%;border-collapse:collapse;min-width:100%\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" style=\"padding:6.75pt 0mm 0mm 0mm;min-width:100%\">\n<table border=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" align=\"left\" width=\"100%\" style=\"width:100.0%;background:white;border-collapse:collapse;min-width:100%\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" style=\"padding:0mm 13.5pt 6.75pt 13.5pt;min-width:100%\">\n<h1 align=\"center\" style=\"text-align:center;line-height:25.2pt\"><span style=\"font-size:18.0pt;color:#202020\">Vol.12, December 30, 2024<\/span><\/h1>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-indent:10.0pt;line-height:18.0pt\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\">What is happening in East Asian Maritime Security? The Research Institute for Peace and Security (RIPS) publishes the biweekly newsletter,<br \/>\n the information on maritime security relevant to East Asia and Japan&#8217;s territory.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height:6.5pt\">\n<td style=\"padding:0mm 0mm 0mm 0mm;height:6.5pt\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\">&nbsp;<\/span><span lang=\"EN-US\"><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height:2.15pt\">\n<td style=\"padding:0mm 0mm 0mm 0mm;height:2.15pt\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align:center;line-height:20.0pt\">\n<span lang=\"FR\" style=\"letter-spacing:.2pt\">&nbsp;<\/span><b><span lang=\"FR\" style=\"font-size:16.0pt;color:black;letter-spacing:.2pt\"><br \/>\n<\/span><\/b><b><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size:16.0pt;color:black;letter-spacing:.2pt\">Monthly Column<br \/>\n<\/span><\/b><b><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size:16.0pt;letter-spacing:.2pt\"><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align:center;line-height:20.0pt\">\n<b><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size:16.0pt;color:black;letter-spacing:.2pt\">by<br \/>\n<\/span><\/b><b><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size:16.0pt;letter-spacing:.2pt\"><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align:center;line-height:20.0pt\">\n<b><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size:16.0pt;color:black;letter-spacing:.2pt\">Tomohide MURAI<\/span><\/b><b><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size:16.0pt;letter-spacing:.2pt\"><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align:center;line-height:20.0pt\">\n<b><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size:16.0pt;color:black;letter-spacing:.2pt\">Honorary Professor, Tokyo International University<\/span><\/b><b><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size:16.0pt;letter-spacing:.2pt\"><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align:center;line-height:20.0pt\">\n<b><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size:11.0pt;letter-spacing:.2pt\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align:center;line-height:20.0pt\">\n<b><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size:16.0pt;color:black\">Threats come from Revisionist Neighbors<\/span><\/b><b><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size:16.0pt;\"><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align:center;line-height:20.0pt\">\n<b><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size:11.0pt;\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-right:24.0pt;margin-bottom:0mm;margin-left:30.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:10.0pt;line-height:20.0pt\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color:black\">What is threat?<\/span><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-right:24.0pt;margin-bottom:0mm;margin-left:30.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:10.0pt;line-height:20.0pt\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-right:24.0pt;margin-bottom:0mm;margin-left:30.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:10.0pt;line-height:20.0pt\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color:black\">Threat is a multiplication of military capability and aggressive intent.&nbsp; Therefore, in the case that the country has strong military capability but has no intention to attack Japan, then that<br \/>\n country is not a threat to Japan.&nbsp; <\/span><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-right:24.0pt;margin-bottom:0mm;margin-left:30.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:10.0pt;line-height:20.0pt\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color:black\">What is intention?&nbsp; In democratic countries, the intention of the country means the intention of the people, but in dictatorship country, it means the intention of the dictator.&nbsp; Looking at<br \/>\n the present world, the intention of the country comes from the view of the world which was created by the history and culture of the country.&nbsp;&nbsp; Considering the intention, whether the country has the revisionist worldview or the status quo worldview is the<br \/>\n critical point for threat.&nbsp; If that country has the status quo worldview, it can be said that the country is satisfied with the situation of the present world and there is a low possibility that the country would go to war and sacrifice the benefit which comes<br \/>\n from the present world.&nbsp; On the other hand, the revisionist countries are basically dissatisfied with the present world order.&nbsp; And in many cases, those countries have victim complex to the neighboring countries and hate neighbors.&nbsp;<br \/>\n<\/span><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-right:24.0pt;margin-bottom:0mm;margin-left:30.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:10.0pt;line-height:20.0pt\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color:black\">Hatred and victim complex paralyze the casualty sensitivity and lower the threshold of the war. When hatred and victim complex exceed the casualty sensitivity, war begins.&nbsp;&nbsp;<br \/>\n<\/span><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-right:24.0pt;margin-bottom:0mm;margin-left:30.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:10.0pt;line-height:20.0pt\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-right:24.0pt;margin-bottom:0mm;margin-left:30.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:10.0pt;line-height:20.0pt\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color:black\">Threats to Japan<\/span><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-right:24.0pt;margin-bottom:0mm;margin-left:30.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:10.0pt;line-height:20.0pt\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-right:24.0pt;margin-bottom:0mm;margin-left:30.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:10.0pt;line-height:20.0pt\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color:black\">Looking at the present world, only the United States can project large scale military forces beyond neighboring countries. Even Russia and China do not have such military capabilities. On the<br \/>\n other hand, even a small country can attack neighbors. Therefore, for all countries in the present world, neighboring countries and the U. S. can be a threat.&nbsp; In the case of Japan, the U.S. and neighboring countries, such as Russia, China, ROK and DPRK are<br \/>\n the candidate countries which can threaten Japan.&nbsp; <\/span><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-right:24.0pt;margin-bottom:0mm;margin-left:30.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:10.0pt;line-height:20.0pt\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color:black\">What is the intention of the neighboring countries of Japan?&nbsp;<br \/>\n<\/span><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-right:24.0pt;margin-bottom:0mm;margin-left:30.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:10.0pt;line-height:20.0pt\">\n<b><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color:black\">The United States<\/span><\/b><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color:black\">:&nbsp; The fundamental national strategy of the U.S. is to become the hegemon in the world, which<br \/>\n is \u201cMake America Great Again.\u201d&nbsp; Now the hegemon of the world is the U. S.&nbsp; Therefore, the national strategy of the U.S. is to maintain status quo.&nbsp; Which means that even though the U.S. has enough military capability to attack Japan, the U.S. is not a threat<br \/>\n to Japan.&nbsp; And furthermore, the U.S. is a Japanese ally.&nbsp; <\/span><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-right:24.0pt;margin-bottom:0mm;margin-left:30.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:10.0pt;line-height:20.0pt\">\n<b><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color:black\">Russia<\/span><\/b><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color:black\">:&nbsp; The national strategy of President Putin is \u201cMake Russia Great Again.\u201d What is Great Russia?&nbsp; Probably<br \/>\n for President Putin, it means USSR which was the largest Russian Empire in Russian history.&nbsp; For that reason, what President Putin is thinking is to recover the USSR territories which were lost by the expansion of the West.&nbsp; President Putin thinks that Russia<br \/>\n is a victim of the expansion of the West.&nbsp; Therefore, for President Putin, justice is to take back the lost USSR territories and revive Great Russia.&nbsp; According to the public opinion poll in Russia last year, more than 70% of Russians supported the national<br \/>\n strategy of President Putin.&nbsp; <\/span><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-right:24.0pt;margin-bottom:0mm;margin-left:30.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:10.0pt;line-height:20.0pt\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color:black\">Where are the lost territories? Comparing the maps of USSR and present Russia, the western areas of USSR were lost.&nbsp; In the image of President Putin, Ukraine, Belorussia and Baltic countries<br \/>\n are the lost territories of Russia. For that reason, President Putin began war to redraw the borderline and recover the lost territories of USSR. But on the other hand, there is no change in eastern borderline between USSR and present Russia.&nbsp; President Putin\u2019s<br \/>\n strategy to the eastern border is to defend the present borderline. Which means President Putin wants to maintain status quo in east Asia.&nbsp; Therefore, for eastern Europe which is the western side of Russia, Russia is a serious threat to the security. But for<br \/>\n the country of eastern side of Russia, basically Russia is a status quo power.&nbsp; <\/span><br \/>\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-right:24.0pt;margin-bottom:0mm;margin-left:30.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:10.0pt;line-height:20.0pt\">\n<b><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color:black\">North Korea<\/span><\/b><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color:black\">: The most important objective of DPRK government is to defend the present regime in north Korea.<br \/>\n The Constitution of DPRK said the most important national objective was reunification of the Korean Peninsula. But comparing the north and south economies, south Korean economy is more than ten times larger than that of north Korea. And in these days, even<br \/>\n in military capability, south Korea has advantage.&nbsp; In reality there is no possibility for north Korea to occupy south Korea in near future.&nbsp;<br \/>\n<\/span><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-right:24.0pt;margin-bottom:0mm;margin-left:30.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:10.0pt;line-height:20.0pt\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color:black\">Under these circumstances, DPRK dictator Kim Jong-Un has changed the constitution, and declared that DPRK is an independent country. To show his determination to go as an independent country<br \/>\n and he has no intention to invade south Korea, he blew up the roads and railways which connected north and south Korea. North Korea has transformed into a defensive status quo country from an aggressive revisionist country.&nbsp;<br \/>\n<\/span><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-right:24.0pt;margin-bottom:0mm;margin-left:30.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:10.0pt;line-height:20.0pt\">\n<b><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color:black\">South Korea<\/span><\/b><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color:black\">: South Korea has the same constitution as north Korea, which says the final goal of south Korean<br \/>\n national strategy is reunification of Korean peninsula.&nbsp; But now in south Korea, there is no atmosphere of pursuing reunification at the expense of economic prosperity.&nbsp; Now south Korean people give priority to economic prosperity rather than legitimate national<br \/>\n reunification.&nbsp; South Korea wants status quo.&nbsp; <\/span><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-right:24.0pt;margin-bottom:0mm;margin-left:30.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:10.0pt;line-height:20.0pt\">\n<b><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color:black\">China<\/span><\/b><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color:black\">: Slogan of the Chinese Communist Party is \u201cMake China Great Again.\u201d What is Great China? Looking at the<br \/>\n history of China, the largest Chinese Empire was Qin Dinasty in 19th century.&nbsp; For that reason, for many Chinese people, the image of Great China is Qin Dynasty which occupied one third of world GDP in 19th century.&nbsp; Then what is the deference between Qin<br \/>\n and present China?&nbsp; Looking at the territories of these two countries, present China lost the eastern and southern part of Chinse Empire (Qin). Therefore, for Chinese people\u2019s image, to become Great China means to recover the territories of Qin Dynasty. Actually<br \/>\n what China is doing now is not to change the borderline, but to expand its sphere of influence in east and south Asia.&nbsp; In the case of Japan, China is now trying to change the borderline with Japan. This strategy is clearly a revisionist strategy and directly<br \/>\n threaten Japanese security.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <\/span><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-right:24.0pt;margin-bottom:0mm;margin-left:30.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:10.0pt;line-height:20.0pt\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-right:24.0pt;margin-bottom:0mm;margin-left:30.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:10.0pt;line-height:20.0pt\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color:black\">Conclusion<\/span><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-right:24.0pt;margin-left:30.0pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:12.0pt;line-height:20.0pt\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color:black\">Considering the situation of neighboring countries and the U.S., China is the only country which is trying to change the status quo surrounding Japan.&nbsp; And China has enough military capability<br \/>\n to threaten Japan.&nbsp; Therefore, for the security of the country, Japan needs to prepare for the threat from China.<\/span><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">\n<b><span lang=\"EN-US\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<table border=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" align=\"left\" style=\"background:white;border-collapse:collapse\">\n<tbody>\n<tr style=\"height:2.05pt\">\n<td valign=\"top\" style=\"padding:0mm 13.5pt 6.75pt 13.5pt;height:2.05pt\">\n<table border=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" align=\"left\" style=\"background:white;border-collapse:collapse\">\n<tbody>\n<tr style=\"height:2.05pt\">\n<td valign=\"top\" style=\"padding:0mm 13.5pt 0mm 13.5pt;height:2.05pt\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align:center;line-height:27.0pt\">\n<b><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size:15.0pt;color:#202020\">Statistical Data and Analysis<\/span><\/b><b><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size:16.0pt;color:black\"><br \/>\n<\/span><\/b><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size:16.0pt;color:black\">(as of December 29)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height:1.25pt\">\n<td style=\"padding:0mm 0mm 0mm 0mm;height:1.25pt\"><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height:2.05pt\">\n<td valign=\"top\" style=\"padding:0mm 13.5pt 0mm 13.5pt;height:2.05pt\"><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height:2.05pt\">\n<td valign=\"top\" style=\"padding:0mm 13.5pt 6.75pt 13.5pt;height:2.05pt\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align:justify;text-indent:12.0pt;line-height:16.8pt\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color:black\">Russian and Chinese military activity around Japan increased in December. In late December, Japan and China hold the Foreign Minister\u2019s meeting in Beijing. Japan<br \/>\n and China agreed to make joint efforts to reduce concerns and increase cooperation and coordination. However, Chinese Coast Guard\u2019s vessels repeatedly enter the waters around the Senkakus including Japanese territorial waters. As of December 29, the number<br \/>\n of Chinese Coast Guard\u2019s vessels entering the contiguous zones around the Senkakus had reached 353 days in a year. This is the highest frequency since the nationalization of the Senkaku Islands.<\/span><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color:black\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-bottom:0mm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:11.0pt;line-height:16.8pt\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size:11.0pt;color:black\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-bottom:0mm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;line-height:16.8pt\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size:11.0pt;color:black\">[Statistical Data as of December 26]<\/span><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size:11.0pt;color:#202020\"><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height:2.05pt\">\n<td valign=\"top\" style=\"padding:0mm 13.5pt 6.75pt 13.5pt;height:2.05pt\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align:justify;text-indent:12.0pt;line-height:16.8pt\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color:#202020\">Japan Coast Guard (JCG) daily updates the statistical data on the number of China Coast Guard vessels entering in the contiguous zone around the Senkaku Islands<br \/>\n and intruding into Japanese territorial waters. The below is from the website of JCG.<\/span><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color:#202020\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-bottom:0mm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;line-height:16.8pt\">\n<u><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color:#202020\">(<\/span><\/u><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color:black\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.kaiho.mlit.go.jp\/mission\/senkaku\/senkaku.html\" target=\"_blank\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/www.kaiho.mlit.go.jp\/mission\/senkaku\/senkaku.html&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1739611186300000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1B24ObEaUZAxxevs5T3J6_\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"color:#0563c1\">https:\/\/www.kaiho.mlit.go.jp\/<wbr>mission\/senkaku\/senkaku.html<\/span><\/a><\/span><u><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color:#202020\">)<\/span><\/u><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-bottom:0mm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;line-height:16.8pt\">\n<u><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color:#202020\"><span style=\"text-decoration:none\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/span><\/u><\/p>\n<table border=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" style=\"border-collapse:collapse\">\n<tbody>\n<tr style=\"height:56.25pt\">\n<td style=\"border:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;height:56.25pt\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align:center\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size:11.0pt;color:black\">Dec.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"border:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-left:none;padding:0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;height:56.25pt\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align:center\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size:11.0pt;color:black\">Contiguous zone<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"border:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-left:none;padding:0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;height:56.25pt\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align:center\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size:11.0pt;color:black\">Territorial<br \/>\nsea<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"border:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-left:none;padding:0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;height:56.25pt\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align:center\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size:11.0pt;color:black\">Dec.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"border:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-left:none;padding:0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;height:56.25pt\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align:center\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size:11.0pt;color:black\">Contiguous zone<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"border:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-left:none;padding:0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;height:56.25pt\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align:center\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size:11.0pt;color:black\">Territorial<br \/>\n<br \/>\nsea<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height:18.75pt\">\n<td nowrap=\"\" style=\"border:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-top:none;padding:0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;height:18.75pt\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align:center\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size:11.0pt;color:black\">1<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td nowrap=\"\" style=\"border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;height:18.75pt\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align:center\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size:11.0pt;color:black\">2<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td nowrap=\"\" style=\"border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;height:18.75pt\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align:center\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size:11.0pt;color:black\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td nowrap=\"\" style=\"border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;height:18.75pt\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align:center\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size:11.0pt;color:black\">17<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td nowrap=\"\" style=\"border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;height:18.75pt\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align:center\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size:11.0pt;color:black\">4<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td nowrap=\"\" style=\"border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;height:18.75pt\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align:center\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size:11.0pt;color:black\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height:18.75pt\">\n<td nowrap=\"\" style=\"border:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-top:none;padding:0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;height:18.75pt\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align:center\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size:11.0pt;color:black\">2<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td nowrap=\"\" style=\"border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;height:18.75pt\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align:center\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size:11.0pt;color:black\">4<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td nowrap=\"\" style=\"border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;height:18.75pt\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align:center\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size:11.0pt;color:black\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td nowrap=\"\" style=\"border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;height:18.75pt\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align:center\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size:11.0pt;color:black\">18<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td nowrap=\"\" style=\"border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;height:18.75pt\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align:center\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size:11.0pt;color:black\">4<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td nowrap=\"\" style=\"border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;height:18.75pt\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align:center\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size:11.0pt;color:black\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height:18.75pt\">\n<td nowrap=\"\" style=\"border:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-top:none;padding:0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;height:18.75pt\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align:center\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size:11.0pt;color:black\">3<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td nowrap=\"\" style=\"border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;height:18.75pt\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align:center\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size:11.0pt;color:black\">2<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td nowrap=\"\" style=\"border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;height:18.75pt\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align:center\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size:11.0pt;color:black\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td nowrap=\"\" style=\"border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;height:18.75pt\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align:center\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size:11.0pt;color:black\">19<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td nowrap=\"\" style=\"border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;height:18.75pt\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align:center\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size:11.0pt;color:black\">4<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td nowrap=\"\" style=\"border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;height:18.75pt\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align:center\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size:11.0pt;color:black\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height:18.75pt\">\n<td nowrap=\"\" style=\"border:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-top:none;padding:0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;height:18.75pt\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align:center\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size:11.0pt;color:black\">4<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td nowrap=\"\" style=\"border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;height:18.75pt\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align:center\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size:11.0pt;color:black\">3<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td nowrap=\"\" style=\"border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;height:18.75pt\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align:center\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size:11.0pt;color:black\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td nowrap=\"\" style=\"border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;height:18.75pt\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align:center\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size:11.0pt;color:black\">20<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td nowrap=\"\" style=\"border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;height:18.75pt\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align:center\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size:11.0pt;color:black\">4<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td nowrap=\"\" style=\"border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;height:18.75pt\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align:center\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size:11.0pt;color:black\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height:18.75pt\">\n<td nowrap=\"\" style=\"border:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-top:none;padding:0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;height:18.75pt\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align:center\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size:11.0pt;color:black\">5<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td nowrap=\"\" style=\"border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;height:18.75pt\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align:center\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size:11.0pt;color:black\">4<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td nowrap=\"\" style=\"border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;height:18.75pt\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align:center\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size:11.0pt;color:black\">3<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td nowrap=\"\" style=\"border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;height:18.75pt\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align:center\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size:11.0pt;\">21<span style=\"color:black\"><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td nowrap=\"\" style=\"border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;height:18.75pt\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align:center\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size:11.0pt;color:black\">2<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td nowrap=\"\" style=\"border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;height:18.75pt\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align:center\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size:11.0pt;color:black\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height:18.75pt\">\n<td nowrap=\"\" style=\"border:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-top:none;padding:0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;height:18.75pt\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align:center\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size:11.0pt;\">6<span style=\"color:black\"><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td nowrap=\"\" style=\"border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;height:18.75pt\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align:center\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size:11.0pt;\">8<span style=\"color:black\"><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td nowrap=\"\" style=\"border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;height:18.75pt\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align:center\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size:11.0pt;\">4<span style=\"color:black\"><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td nowrap=\"\" style=\"border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;height:18.75pt\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align:center\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size:11.0pt;\">22<span style=\"color:black\"><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td nowrap=\"\" style=\"border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;height:18.75pt\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align:center\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size:11.0pt;\">2<span style=\"color:black\"><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td nowrap=\"\" style=\"border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;height:18.75pt\">\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height:18.75pt\">\n<td nowrap=\"\" style=\"border:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-top:none;padding:0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;height:18.75pt\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align:center\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size:11.0pt;\">7<span style=\"color:black\"><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td nowrap=\"\" style=\"border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;height:18.75pt\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align:center\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size:11.0pt;color:black\">4<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td nowrap=\"\" style=\"border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;height:18.75pt\">\n<\/td>\n<td nowrap=\"\" style=\"border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;height:18.75pt\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align:center\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size:11.0pt;\">23<span style=\"color:black\"><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td nowrap=\"\" style=\"border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;height:18.75pt\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align:center\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size:11.0pt;\">4<span style=\"color:black\"><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td nowrap=\"\" style=\"border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;height:18.75pt\">\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height:18.75pt\">\n<td nowrap=\"\" style=\"border:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-top:none;padding:0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;height:18.75pt\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align:center\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size:11.0pt;\">8<span style=\"color:black\"><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td nowrap=\"\" style=\"border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;height:18.75pt\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align:center\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size:11.0pt;color:black\">4<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td nowrap=\"\" style=\"border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;height:18.75pt\">\n<\/td>\n<td nowrap=\"\" style=\"border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;height:18.75pt\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align:center\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size:11.0pt;\">24<span style=\"color:black\"><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td nowrap=\"\" style=\"border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;height:18.75pt\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align:center\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size:11.0pt;\">4<span style=\"color:black\"><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td nowrap=\"\" style=\"border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;height:18.75pt\">\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height:18.75pt\">\n<td nowrap=\"\" style=\"border:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-top:none;padding:0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;height:18.75pt\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align:center\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size:11.0pt;\">9<span style=\"color:black\"><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td nowrap=\"\" style=\"border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;height:18.75pt\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align:center\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size:11.0pt;\">4<span style=\"color:black\"><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td nowrap=\"\" style=\"border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;height:18.75pt\">\n<\/td>\n<td nowrap=\"\" style=\"border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;height:18.75pt\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align:center\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size:11.0pt;\">25<span style=\"color:black\"><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td nowrap=\"\" style=\"border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;height:18.75pt\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align:center\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size:11.0pt;\">2<span style=\"color:black\"><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td nowrap=\"\" style=\"border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;height:18.75pt\">\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height:18.75pt\">\n<td nowrap=\"\" style=\"border:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-top:none;padding:0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;height:18.75pt\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align:center\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size:11.0pt;\">10<span style=\"color:black\"><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td nowrap=\"\" style=\"border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;height:18.75pt\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align:center\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size:11.0pt;\">4<span style=\"color:black\"><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td nowrap=\"\" style=\"border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;height:18.75pt\">\n<\/td>\n<td nowrap=\"\" style=\"border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;height:18.75pt\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align:center\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size:11.0pt;\">26<span style=\"color:black\"><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td nowrap=\"\" style=\"border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;height:18.75pt\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align:center\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size:11.0pt;\">2<span style=\"color:black\"><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td nowrap=\"\" style=\"border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;height:18.75pt\">\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height:18.75pt\">\n<td nowrap=\"\" style=\"border:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-top:none;padding:0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;height:18.75pt\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align:center\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size:11.0pt;\">11<span style=\"color:black\"><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td nowrap=\"\" style=\"border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;height:18.75pt\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align:center\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size:11.0pt;color:black\">4<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td nowrap=\"\" style=\"border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;height:18.75pt\">\n<\/td>\n<td nowrap=\"\" style=\"border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;height:18.75pt\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align:center\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size:11.0pt;\">27<span style=\"color:black\"><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td nowrap=\"\" style=\"border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;height:18.75pt\">\n<\/td>\n<td nowrap=\"\" style=\"border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;height:18.75pt\">\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height:18.75pt\">\n<td nowrap=\"\" style=\"border:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-top:none;padding:0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;height:18.75pt\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align:center\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size:11.0pt;\">12<span style=\"color:black\"><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td nowrap=\"\" style=\"border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;height:18.75pt\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align:center\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size:11.0pt;color:black\">4<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td nowrap=\"\" style=\"border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;height:18.75pt\">\n<\/td>\n<td nowrap=\"\" style=\"border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;height:18.75pt\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align:center\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size:11.0pt;\">28<span style=\"color:black\"><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td nowrap=\"\" style=\"border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;height:18.75pt\">\n<\/td>\n<td nowrap=\"\" style=\"border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;height:18.75pt\">\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height:18.75pt\">\n<td nowrap=\"\" style=\"border:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-top:none;padding:0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;height:18.75pt\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align:center\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size:11.0pt;\">13<span style=\"color:black\"><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td nowrap=\"\" style=\"border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;height:18.75pt\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align:center\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size:11.0pt;\">4<span style=\"color:black\"><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td nowrap=\"\" style=\"border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;height:18.75pt\">\n<\/td>\n<td nowrap=\"\" style=\"border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;height:18.75pt\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align:center\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size:11.0pt;color:black\">29<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td nowrap=\"\" style=\"border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;height:18.75pt\">\n<\/td>\n<td nowrap=\"\" style=\"border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;height:18.75pt\">\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height:18.75pt\">\n<td nowrap=\"\" style=\"border:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-top:none;padding:0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;height:18.75pt\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align:center\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size:11.0pt;\">14<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td nowrap=\"\" style=\"border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;height:18.75pt\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align:center\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size:11.0pt;color:black\">4<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td nowrap=\"\" style=\"border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;height:18.75pt\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align:center\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size:11.0pt;color:black\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td nowrap=\"\" style=\"border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;height:18.75pt\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align:center\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size:11.0pt;color:black\">30<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td nowrap=\"\" style=\"border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;height:18.75pt\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align:center\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td nowrap=\"\" style=\"border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;height:18.75pt\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align:center\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size:11.0pt;color:black\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height:18.75pt\">\n<td nowrap=\"\" style=\"border:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-top:none;padding:0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;height:18.75pt\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align:center\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size:11.0pt;\">15<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td nowrap=\"\" style=\"border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;height:18.75pt\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align:center\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size:11.0pt;color:black\">4<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td nowrap=\"\" style=\"border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;height:18.75pt\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align:center\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size:11.0pt;color:black\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td nowrap=\"\" style=\"border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;height:18.75pt\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align:center\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size:11.0pt;color:black\">31<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td nowrap=\"\" style=\"border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;height:18.75pt\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align:center\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td nowrap=\"\" style=\"border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;height:18.75pt\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align:center\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size:11.0pt;color:black\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height:18.75pt\">\n<td nowrap=\"\" style=\"border:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-top:none;padding:0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;height:18.75pt\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align:center\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size:11.0pt;\">16<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td nowrap=\"\" style=\"border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;height:18.75pt\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align:center\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size:11.0pt;color:black\">4<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td nowrap=\"\" style=\"border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;height:18.75pt\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align:center\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size:11.0pt;color:black\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td nowrap=\"\" style=\"border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;height:18.75pt\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align:center\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size:11.0pt;color:black\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td nowrap=\"\" style=\"border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;height:18.75pt\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align:center\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td nowrap=\"\" style=\"border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0mm 4.95pt 0mm 4.95pt;height:18.75pt\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align:center\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size:11.0pt;color:black\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-bottom:0mm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;line-height:16.8pt\">\n<u><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color:#202020\"><span style=\"text-decoration:none\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/span><\/u><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-bottom:0mm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height:2.05pt\">\n<td valign=\"top\" style=\"padding:0mm 13.5pt 6.75pt 13.5pt;height:2.05pt\">\n<table border=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" align=\"left\" style=\"border-collapse:collapse\">\n<tbody>\n<tr style=\"height:6.55pt\">\n<td width=\"100\" valign=\"top\" style=\"border-top:solid white 1.0pt;border-left:none;border-bottom:none;border-right:solid white 1.0pt;background:#a5e9ff;padding:3.75pt 13.5pt 3.75pt 13.5pt;height:6.55pt\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align:center;line-height:16.8pt\">\n<b><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size:11.0pt;color:#202020\">Date<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" style=\"border:none;border-top:solid white 1.0pt;background:#eeeeee;padding:3.75pt 13.5pt 3.75pt 13.5pt;height:6.55pt\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"margin-right:12.0pt;margin-bottom:0mm;margin-left:12.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:center;line-height:16.8pt\">\n<b><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size:11.0pt;color:#202020\">Topics<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height:6.55pt\">\n<td valign=\"top\" style=\"border-top:solid white 1.0pt;border-left:none;border-bottom:none;border-right:solid white 1.0pt;background:#a5e9ff;padding:3.75pt 13.5pt 3.75pt 13.5pt;height:6.55pt\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align:justify;line-height:16.8pt\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color:#202020\">12\/17<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"border:none;border-top:solid white 1.0pt;background:#eeeeee;padding:0mm 0mm 0mm 0mm;height:6.55pt\">\n<table border=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" align=\"left\" style=\"border-collapse:collapse\">\n<tbody>\n<tr style=\"height:6.55pt\">\n<td valign=\"top\" style=\"padding:3.75pt 13.5pt 0mm 13.5pt;height:6.55pt\">\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height:62.5pt\">\n<td valign=\"top\" style=\"padding:0mm 13.5pt 0mm 13.5pt;height:62.5pt\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-left:12.0pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:5.25pt;line-height:150%\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"line-height:150%;\">Japan and the United States conducted the joint military drill in the Sea of Japan, the East China Sea and the Western Pacific on December 16. This drill involved Japanese<br \/>\n F-15 fighters and US B-52 bomber, F-35A, F-18, F-22, F-16 fighters and EA-18Gs.<br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-left:12.0pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:5.25pt\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<div style=\"margin-left:12.0pt;margin-right:12.0pt\">\n<div style=\"margin-left:12.0pt;margin-right:12.0pt\">\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-right:12.0pt;margin-bottom:0mm;margin-left:12.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"\"><\/p>\n<hr size=\"1\" align=\"left\">\n<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-right:12.0pt;margin-bottom:0mm;margin-left:12.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height:36.7pt\">\n<td valign=\"top\" style=\"padding:0mm 13.5pt 3.75pt 13.5pt;height:36.7pt\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-right:12.0pt;margin-bottom:0mm;margin-left:12.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;line-height:16.8pt\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"\">Japan Joint Staff<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-right:12.0pt;margin-bottom:0mm;margin-left:12.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;line-height:16.8pt\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mod.go.jp\/js\/pdf\/2024\/p20241217_01.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/www.mod.go.jp\/js\/pdf\/2024\/p20241217_01.pdf&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1739611186300000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1eZRsmhhAfff5D9zliAnVM\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"color:#0563c1\">https:\/\/www.mod.go.jp\/js\/pdf\/<wbr>2024\/p20241217_01.pdf<\/span><\/a><\/span><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height:6.55pt\">\n<td valign=\"top\" style=\"border-top:solid white 1.0pt;border-left:none;border-bottom:none;border-right:solid white 1.0pt;background:#a5e9ff;padding:3.75pt 13.5pt 3.75pt 13.5pt;height:6.55pt\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align:justify;line-height:16.8pt\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size:11.0pt;color:#202020\">12\/19<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"border:none;border-top:solid white 1.0pt;background:#eeeeee;padding:0mm 0mm 0mm 0mm;height:6.55pt\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-right:12.0pt;margin-bottom:0mm;margin-left:22.5pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;line-height:150%\">\n<span style=\"line-height:150%;color:#202020\">\u3000<\/span><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"line-height:150%;color:#202020\">&nbsp;<br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"line-height:150%;color:#202020\">\u3000<\/span><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"line-height:150%;color:#202020\"> Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) has confirmed<br \/>\n two Chinese Naval vessels: Luyang-II class destroyer (hull number 152) and Jiangkai-II class frigate (hull number 549) sailing north in the water 90 km northeast of Miyako Island on December 19. These vessels crossed the Miyako Strait and navigated to the<br \/>\n East China Sea.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-right:12.0pt;margin-bottom:0mm;margin-left:22.5pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;line-height:16.8pt\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color:#202020\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-right:12.0pt;margin-bottom:0mm;margin-left:27.75pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;line-height:16.8pt\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color:#202020\">&nbsp;&nbsp;<br \/>\n<img border=\"0\" height=\"222\" style=\"height:2.3125in\" id=\"m_-643967563348065631m_1146522129738120430\u56f3_x0020_1\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rips.or.jp\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image029.png\"><\/span><br \/>\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color:black\">&nbsp;&nbsp;(source: Japan Joint Staff)<\/span><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"\"><\/span><\/p>\n<div style=\"margin-left:28.5pt;margin-right:12.0pt\">\n<div style=\"margin-left:28.5pt;margin-right:12.0pt\">\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-right:12.0pt;margin-bottom:0mm;margin-left:28.5pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:16.8pt\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color:black\"><\/p>\n<hr size=\"1\" align=\"left\">\n<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-right:12.0pt;margin-bottom:0mm;margin-left:22.5pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;line-height:16.8pt\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color:#202020\">&nbsp; Japan Joint Staff<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-right:12.0pt;margin-bottom:0mm;margin-left:18.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:6.0pt;line-height:16.8pt\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color:black\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mod.go.jp\/js\/pdf\/2024\/p20241219_01.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/www.mod.go.jp\/js\/pdf\/2024\/p20241219_01.pdf&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1739611186300000&amp;usg=AOvVaw39QYM5qmOtmL7ZYdva2u2l\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"color:#0563c1\">https:\/\/www.mod.go.jp\/js\/pdf\/<wbr>2024\/p20241219_01.pdf<\/span><\/a><\/span><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color:black\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color:#202020\"><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height:6.55pt\">\n<td valign=\"top\" style=\"border-top:solid white 1.0pt;border-left:none;border-bottom:none;border-right:solid white 1.0pt;background:#a5e9ff;padding:3.75pt 13.5pt 3.75pt 13.5pt;height:6.55pt\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align:justify;line-height:16.8pt\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size:11.0pt;color:#202020\">12\/20<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"border:none;border-top:solid white 1.0pt;background:#eeeeee;padding:0mm 0mm 0mm 0mm;height:6.55pt\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-right:12.0pt;margin-bottom:0mm;margin-left:12.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;line-height:150%\">\n<span style=\"line-height:150%;color:#202020\">\u3000\u3000<\/span><span style=\"line-height:150%;color:#202020\"><br \/>\n<span lang=\"EN-US\">Japan Maritime Self-Defense Forces (JMSDF) has confirmed four Chinese Naval vessels: one Luyang-II destroyer (hull number 121), two Jangkai-II class frigates (hull number 539 and 579) and Fuchi class oiler (hull number 902) sailing west in<br \/>\n the water 50 km northeast of Tanega Shima (Kagoshima Prefecture) on December 19. These vessels crossed the Osumi Strait and navigated to the East China Sea.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-right:12.0pt;margin-bottom:0mm;margin-left:22.5pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;line-height:150%\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"line-height:150%;color:#202020\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-right:12.0pt;margin-bottom:0mm;margin-left:22.5pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;line-height:16.8pt\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color:#202020\"><img border=\"0\" height=\"357\" style=\"height:3.7187in\" id=\"m_-643967563348065631m_1146522129738120430\u56f3_x0020_2\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rips.or.jp\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image030.png\"><\/span><br \/>\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color:#202020\">Japan Joint Staff&nbsp;<br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-right:12.0pt;margin-bottom:0mm;margin-left:17.25pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;line-height:16.8pt\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color:#202020\">&nbsp;<\/span><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color:black\">&nbsp;<\/span><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color:black\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mod.go.jp\/js\/pdf\/2024\/p20241220_02.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/www.mod.go.jp\/js\/pdf\/2024\/p20241220_02.pdf&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1739611186301000&amp;usg=AOvVaw18m9xO1VAxoU3w4RnRaO36\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"color:#0563c1\">https:\/\/www.mod.go.jp\/js\/<wbr>pdf\/2024\/p20241220_02.pdf<\/span><\/a><\/span><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color:black\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color:#202020\"><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height:6.55pt\">\n<td valign=\"top\" style=\"border-top:solid white 1.0pt;border-left:none;border-bottom:none;border-right:solid white 1.0pt;background:#a5e9ff;padding:3.75pt 13.5pt 3.75pt 13.5pt;height:6.55pt\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align:justify;line-height:16.8pt\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size:11.0pt;color:#202020\">12\/23<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"border:none;border-top:solid white 1.0pt;background:#eeeeee;padding:0mm 0mm 0mm 0mm;height:6.55pt\">\n<table border=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" align=\"left\" style=\"border-collapse:collapse\">\n<tbody>\n<tr style=\"height:6.55pt\">\n<td valign=\"top\" style=\"padding:3.75pt 13.5pt 0mm 13.5pt;height:6.55pt\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-right:12.0pt;margin-bottom:0mm;margin-left:12.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:5.25pt;line-height:150%\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"line-height:150%;color:#202020\">JMSDF has confirmed three Chinese Naval vessels: one Jangkai-II class frigates (hull number 516 and 534) and Jangkai-I class frigate (hull number 525) sailing<br \/>\n north in the waters 100km east of Miyako Island (Okinawa Prefecture) on December 22. These vessels crossed the Miyako Strait and navigated to the East China Sea.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-right:12.0pt;margin-bottom:0mm;margin-left:12.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:5.25pt;line-height:150%\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"line-height:150%;color:#202020\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-right:12.0pt;margin-bottom:0mm;margin-left:12.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;line-height:16.8pt\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color:#202020\"><img border=\"0\" height=\"180\" style=\"height:1.875in\" id=\"m_-643967563348065631m_1146522129738120430\u56f3_x0020_3\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rips.or.jp\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image031.png\"><\/span><br \/>\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color:#202020\">(Source: Japan Joint Staff)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height:6.55pt\">\n<td valign=\"top\" style=\"padding:0mm 13.5pt 0mm 13.5pt;height:6.55pt\">\n<div style=\"margin-left:12.0pt;margin-right:12.0pt\">\n<div style=\"margin-left:12.0pt;margin-right:12.0pt\">\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-right:12.0pt;margin-bottom:0mm;margin-left:12.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"\"><\/p>\n<hr size=\"1\" align=\"left\">\n<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height:6.55pt\">\n<td valign=\"top\" style=\"padding:0mm 13.5pt 3.75pt 13.5pt;height:6.55pt\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-right:12.0pt;margin-bottom:0mm;margin-left:12.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;line-height:16.8pt\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"\">Japan Joint Staff<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-right:12.0pt;margin-bottom:0mm;margin-left:12.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;line-height:16.8pt\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mod.go.jp\/js\/pdf\/2024\/p20241223_01.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/www.mod.go.jp\/js\/pdf\/2024\/p20241223_01.pdf&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1739611186301000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0iJE23F18c-pDD6smutXeg\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"color:#0563c1\">https:\/\/www.mod.go.jp\/js\/pdf\/<wbr>2024\/p20241223_01.pdf<\/span><\/a><\/span><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"\">\u3000<\/span><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"\">&nbsp;<br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height:6.55pt\">\n<td valign=\"top\" style=\"border:solid white 1.0pt;border-left:none;background:#a5e9ff;padding:3.75pt 13.5pt 3.75pt 13.5pt;height:6.55pt\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align:justify;line-height:16.8pt\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size:11.0pt;color:#202020\">12\/24<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"border-top:solid white 1.0pt;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid white 1.0pt;border-right:none;background:#eeeeee;padding:0mm 0mm 0mm 0mm;height:6.55pt\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-right:12.0pt;margin-bottom:0mm;margin-left:12.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:5.25pt;line-height:150%\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"line-height:150%;color:#202020\">JMSDF has confirmed one Chinese Dongdiao class Intelligence ship sailing north in the waters 120km west of Miyako Island (Okinawa Prefecture) on December<br \/>\n 23. This vessel then crossed the Miyako Strait and navigated to the East China Sea.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-right:12.0pt;margin-bottom:0mm;margin-left:12.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:5.25pt;line-height:150%\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"line-height:150%;color:#202020\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-right:12.0pt;margin-bottom:0mm;margin-left:12.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:5.25pt;line-height:16.8pt\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color:#202020\"><img border=\"0\" height=\"218\" style=\"height:2.2708in\" id=\"m_-643967563348065631m_1146522129738120430\u56f3_x0020_4\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rips.or.jp\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image032.png\"><\/span><br \/>\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color:#202020\">(Source: Japan Joint Staff)<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-right:12.0pt;margin-bottom:0mm;margin-left:12.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:5.25pt;line-height:16.8pt\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color:#202020\">______________________________<wbr>__________<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-right:12.0pt;margin-bottom:0mm;margin-left:12.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:5.25pt;line-height:16.8pt\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color:#202020\">Japan Joint Staff<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-right:12.0pt;margin-bottom:0mm;margin-left:12.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color:black\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mod.go.jp\/js\/pdf\/2024\/p20241224_01.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/www.mod.go.jp\/js\/pdf\/2024\/p20241224_01.pdf&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1739611186301000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3h0OrhPhm9Vuq5TnjvrY_e\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"color:#0563c1\">https:\/\/www.mod.go.jp\/js\/pdf\/<wbr>2024\/p20241224_01.pdf<\/span><\/a><\/span><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color:black\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size:11.0pt;\"><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height:301.85pt\">\n<td valign=\"top\" style=\"border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid white 1.0pt;border-right:solid white 1.0pt;background:#a5e9ff;padding:3.75pt 13.5pt 3.75pt 13.5pt;height:301.85pt\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align:justify;line-height:16.8pt\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size:11.0pt;color:#202020\">12\/25<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"border:none;border-bottom:solid white 1.0pt;background:#eeeeee;padding:0mm 0mm 0mm 0mm;height:301.85pt\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-right:12.0pt;margin-bottom:0mm;margin-left:12.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:5.25pt;line-height:150%\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"line-height:150%;color:#202020\">Japanese Foreign Minister, Takeshi Iwaya visited Beijing and met with his counterpart Wang Yi on December 25. At the meeting, two ministers confirmed the<br \/>\n promotion of \u201cMutually Beneficial Relationship Based on Common Strategic Interests\u201d and to joint effort to reduce issues and concerns and increase cooperation and coordination.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-right:12.0pt;margin-bottom:0mm;margin-left:12.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:5.25pt;line-height:150%\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"line-height:150%;color:#202020\">At the meeting, FM Iwaya conveyed Japan\u2019s serious concerns about the situation in the East China Sea including the situation surrounding the Senkaku Islands.<br \/>\n He also demanded that China remove the buoys installed near Yonaguni Island (Okinawa Prefecture).<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-right:12.0pt;margin-bottom:0mm;margin-left:12.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:5.25pt;line-height:150%\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"line-height:150%;color:#202020\">FM Iwaya also reiterated that \u201cpeace and stability across the Taiwan Strait is extremely important for the international community, including Japan.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-right:12.0pt;margin-bottom:0mm;margin-left:12.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:5.25pt;line-height:16.8pt\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color:#202020\">______________________________<wbr>__________<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-right:12.0pt;margin-bottom:0mm;margin-left:12.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:5.25pt;line-height:16.8pt\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color:#202020\">Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-right:12.0pt;margin-bottom:0mm;margin-left:12.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:6.0pt;line-height:16.8pt\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color:black\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mofa.go.jp\/a_o\/c_m1\/cn\/pageite_000001_00718.html\" target=\"_blank\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/www.mofa.go.jp\/a_o\/c_m1\/cn\/pageite_000001_00718.html&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1739611186301000&amp;usg=AOvVaw39bBWvK3BbfqUGV_sYBPE6\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"color:#0563c1\">https:\/\/www.mofa.go.jp\/a_o\/c_<wbr>m1\/cn\/pageite_000001_00718.<wbr>html<\/span><\/a><\/span><span style=\"color:black\">\u3000<\/span><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-right:12.0pt;margin-bottom:0mm;margin-left:12.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:5.25pt;line-height:16.8pt\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color:black\">NHK world<\/span><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-right:12.0pt;margin-bottom:0mm;margin-left:12.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:6.0pt;line-height:16.8pt\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color:black\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www3.nhk.or.jp\/nhkworld\/en\/news\/20241225_12\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/www3.nhk.or.jp\/nhkworld\/en\/news\/20241225_12\/index.html&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1739611186301000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1a_9HPJKq2Wf5VCunrNRUC\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"color:#0563c1\">https:\/\/www3.nhk.or.jp\/<wbr>nhkworld\/en\/news\/20241225_12\/<wbr>index.html<\/span><\/a><\/span><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color:black\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color:#202020\"><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height:188.55pt\">\n<td valign=\"top\" style=\"border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid white 1.0pt;border-right:solid white 1.0pt;background:#a5e9ff;padding:3.75pt 13.5pt 3.75pt 13.5pt;height:188.55pt\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align:justify;line-height:16.8pt\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size:11.0pt;color:#202020\">12\/28<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"border:none;border-bottom:solid white 1.0pt;background:#eeeeee;padding:0mm 0mm 0mm 0mm;height:188.55pt\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-right:12.0pt;margin-bottom:0mm;margin-left:12.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:5.25pt;line-height:150%\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"line-height:150%;color:#202020\">Chinese Foreign Ministry confirmed that China installed the buoy in the waters south of Yonaguni Island on December 27. China refused to remove the buoy as<br \/>\n requested by Foreign Minister Iwaya at the Japan-China Foreign Ministers\u2019 meeting. China insisted that its installation of the buoy is for meteorological observation, and it is a rational and legal activity.<br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-right:12.0pt;margin-bottom:0mm;margin-left:12.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:5.25pt;line-height:16.8pt\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color:#202020\">______________________________<wbr>__________<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-right:12.0pt;margin-bottom:0mm;margin-left:12.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:5.25pt;line-height:16.8pt\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color:#202020\">NHK News (Japanese)<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-right:12.0pt;margin-bottom:0mm;margin-left:12.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:6.0pt;line-height:16.8pt\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color:black\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www3.nhk.or.jp\/news\/html\/20241228\/k10014681601000.html\" target=\"_blank\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/www3.nhk.or.jp\/news\/html\/20241228\/k10014681601000.html&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1739611186301000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3cwwFhuRjztB_W1Q3CYo6z\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"color:#0563c1\">https:\/\/www3.nhk.or.jp\/news\/<wbr>html\/20241228\/k10014681601000.<wbr>html<\/span><\/a><\/span><span style=\"color:#202020\">\u3000<\/span><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color:#202020\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-right:12.0pt;margin-bottom:0mm;margin-left:12.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:5.25pt;line-height:16.8pt\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color:#202020\">The Sankei Shimbun<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-right:12.0pt;margin-bottom:0mm;margin-left:12.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:6.0pt;line-height:16.8pt\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color:black\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sankei.com\/article\/20241225-AM4CYBQB75PKRELCM6SQZNNACQ\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/www.sankei.com\/article\/20241225-AM4CYBQB75PKRELCM6SQZNNACQ\/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1739611186301000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2QxMpGv9mmfiOEGrxQYP1U\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"color:#0563c1\">https:\/\/www.sankei.com\/<wbr>article\/20241225-<wbr>AM4CYBQB75PKRELCM6SQZNNACQ\/<\/span><\/a><\/span><span style=\"color:#202020\">\u3000<\/span><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color:#202020\"><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height:196.15pt\">\n<td valign=\"top\" style=\"border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid white 1.0pt;border-right:solid white 1.0pt;background:#a5e9ff;padding:3.75pt 13.5pt 3.75pt 13.5pt;height:196.15pt\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align:justify;line-height:16.8pt\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size:11.0pt;color:#202020\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align:justify;line-height:16.8pt\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size:11.0pt;color:#202020\">12\/29<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align:justify;line-height:16.8pt\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size:11.0pt;color:#202020\">12\/30<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"border:none;border-bottom:solid white 1.0pt;background:#eeeeee;padding:0mm 0mm 0mm 0mm;height:196.15pt\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-right:12.0pt;margin-bottom:0mm;margin-left:12.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:5.25pt;line-height:150%\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"line-height:150%;color:#202020\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-right:12.0pt;margin-bottom:0mm;margin-left:12.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:5.25pt;line-height:150%\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"line-height:150%;color:#202020\">As of December 29, the number of days that Chinese Coast Guard\u2019s vessels entering the contiguous zones around the Senkakus had reached 353 days in a year.<br \/>\n This is the highest frequency since the nationalization of the Senkaku Islands. On December 30, the Japan Coast Guard confirmed the Chinese Coast Guard vessels around the Senkakus. As a result, the number of days was extended to 354 days.<br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"line-height:150%;color:#202020\">\u3000<\/span><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"line-height:150%;color:#202020\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-right:12.0pt;margin-bottom:0mm;margin-left:12.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:5.25pt;line-height:16.8pt\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color:#202020\">______________________________<wbr>__________<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-right:12.0pt;margin-bottom:0mm;margin-left:12.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:5.25pt;line-height:16.8pt\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color:#202020\">NHK News (Japanese)<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-right:12.0pt;margin-bottom:0mm;margin-left:12.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:6.0pt;line-height:16.8pt\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color:black\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www3.nhk.or.jp\/news\/html\/20241229\/k10014682141000.html\" target=\"_blank\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/www3.nhk.or.jp\/news\/html\/20241229\/k10014682141000.html&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1739611186301000&amp;usg=AOvVaw17-2V5nlw3JrHNk4tci8me\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"color:#0563c1\">https:\/\/www3.nhk.or.jp\/news\/<wbr>html\/20241229\/k10014682141000.<wbr>html<\/span><\/a><\/span><span style=\"color:#202020\">\u3000<\/span><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color:#202020\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-right:12.0pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:21.0pt;line-height:16.8pt\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color:#202020\">The Kyodo<br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-right:12.0pt;margin-bottom:0mm;margin-left:12.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:6.0pt;line-height:16.8pt\">\n<span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color:black\"><a href=\"https:\/\/nordot.app\/1246280450936570794?c=302675738515047521\" target=\"_blank\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/nordot.app\/1246280450936570794?c%3D302675738515047521&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1739611186301000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1z-fhV8-JiIdCvjDCb9liX\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"color:#0563c1\">https:\/\/nordot.app\/<wbr>1246280450936570794?c=<wbr>302675738515047521<\/span><\/a><\/span><span style=\"color:#202020\">\u3000<\/span><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color:#202020\"><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><\/center>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h3>Newsletter Registration<\/h3>\n<p>What is happening in East Asian Maritime Security? The Research Institute for Peace and Security (RIPS) publishes the biweekly newsletter, \u201cEast Asian Maritime Security (EAMS)\u201d and updates the information on maritime security relevant to East Asia and Japan&#8217;s territory.<\/p>\n<div class=\"u-mbs is-top mw-400\"><a class=\"c-button\" href=\"https:\/\/forms.gle\/CiMT6bWdHrryT8mM6\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span>Registration Form<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Vol.12, December 30, 2024 What is happening in East Asian Maritime Security? The Research Institute for Peace and Security (RIPS) publishes the biweekly newsletter, the information on maritime security relevant to East Asia and Japan&#8217;s territory. &nbsp; &nbsp; Monthly Column by Tomohide MURAI Honorary Professor, Tokyo International University &nbsp; Threats come from Revisionist Neighbors &nbsp; What is threat? &nbsp; Threat is a multiplication of military capability and aggressive intent.&nbsp; Therefore, in the case that the country has strong military capability &hellip; <span>More<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":2309,"menu_order":34,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v17.8 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Vol.12, December 30, 2024 - RIPS - Research Institute for Peace and Security -<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"\u300cVol.12, December 30, 2024 \u300d\u306b\u3064\u3044\u3066\u3054\u7d39\u4ecb\u3044\u305f\u3057\u307e\u3059\u3002- RIPS - Research Institute for Peace and Security - The Research Institute for Peace and Security (RIPS) is Japan\u2019s first nonprofit, private think tank. 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It was established in October 1978 and has a research history of more than 45 years.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.rips.or.jp\/en\/newsletter\/vol-12-december-30-2024\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Vol.12, December 30, 2024 - RIPS - Research Institute for Peace and Security -","og_description":"\u300cVol.12, December 30, 2024 \u300d\u306b\u3064\u3044\u3066\u3054\u7d39\u4ecb\u3044\u305f\u3057\u307e\u3059\u3002- RIPS - Research Institute for Peace and Security - The Research Institute for Peace and Security (RIPS) is Japan\u2019s first nonprofit, private think tank. 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