Exclusive economic zone of Japan#Events

File:Japan Exclusive Economic Zone English Map 2016.png

File:Japan Relief Map of Land and Seabed.png

The Japanese Archipelago consists of about 6,852 islands. The Exclusive Economic Zone of Japan includes:

In the 18th century, Dutch law scholar Cornelius van Bynkershoek wrote in his book "De Dominio Maris Dissertatio" (1702) that the coastal states control the waters within the range of cannons carried on warships of the time. This theory was supported by many countries, and the idea of having three nautical miles from the coastline as the territorial sea was established.

In the 20th century, there have emerged examples of extending the scope of territorial waters, or claiming similar rights in areas beyond the territorial waters. These claims were advocated by Dr. Pardeau, UN Ambassador of the Republic of Malta, at the Second United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea in 1967. However, Japan, which was an advanced pelagic fishing country, took an opposing position because "wide open seas and narrow territorial waters" matched their national interests at the time.

But later, exploiting the absence of a Japanese EEZ, neighboring countries such as South and North Korea, China and Soviet Union entered the offshore fishing industry and began operating off the coast of Shimane and Tottori Prefectures, making the situation disadvantageous to Japan.『魚の経済学』　山下東子　日本評論社　79–82頁 {{ISBN|4535556091}}元々はEEZを設定しない事で日本側が相手国の対岸の近くまで漁業ができた為、都合がよく。1965年の日中漁業協定は日本側の中国沿岸での漁業が問題視された事が発端であるが、1970年代後半以後、その立場は逆転する。日中漁業協定の項も参照 Therefore, in 1982, Japan supported the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) when it was created at the Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea held in Montego Bay, Jamaica, and it came into effect in 1994.{{cite web|url=https://www.un.org/Depts/los/convention_agreements/convention_historical_perspective.htm |title=The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (A historical perspective) | publisher=United Nations Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea| access-date=30 April 2009}} The treaty gives Japan the right to explore and develop marine and non-living resources such as mineral resources, within 200 nautical miles of their coastline, and at the same time she is obligated to manage them and prevent marine pollution.{{cite web |title=Documents and Publications |url=http://www.isa.org.jm/en/documents |publisher=International Seabed Authority|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080513045513/http://www.isa.org.jm/en/documents |archive-date=13 May 2008 }} The Japanese government signed UNCLOS in February 1983 and Part XI in July 1994. The Convention and Part XI were ratified by the Diet in June 1996.{{cite web |title=Japan and the Four Multilateral Maritime Conferences－ 1930 to 1982 |publisher=海幹校戦略研究第 10 巻第 2 号（通巻第 21 号） 2020 年 12 月 (Maritime College Strategic Research Volume 10 No. 2 (Volume 21) December 2020) |date=December 1, 2020 |author=James Kraska |url=https://www.mod.go.jp/msdf/navcol/assets/pdf/ssg2020_12_09.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220814005511/https://www.mod.go.jp/msdf/navcol/assets/pdf/ssg2020_12_09.pdf |archive-date=August 14, 2022 }}

Japan has contributed to three UNCLOS organizations such as the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS), the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS) and the International Seabed Authority (ISA).{{cite web| url=https://www.mofa.go.jp/ila/ocn/page22e_000665.html|title=Law of the Sea| publisher=Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan| accessdate=12 August 2018}}

The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) and the Japan Coast Guard (JCG) are responsible for protecting the EEZ of Japan. As an island nation, dependent on maritime trade for the majority of its resources, including food and raw materials, maritime operations are a very important aspect of Japanese defense policy. On 30 June 2022, the Japan Ministry of Defense announced the construction of 12 offshore patrol vessel (OPV) by Japan Marine United Corporation (JMU) for the JMSDF. The purpose of this OPV program is to provide enhanced maritime security by boosting JMSDF patrol activities. These vessels are highly automated and configurable to meet a wide range of missions involving “enhanced steady-state intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) in the waters around Japan.” Under the contract, JMU is charged with delivering the 12 vessels to the JMSDF from fiscal year 2023, which starts on April 1, 2023.{{Cite web |date=2 July 2022 |author= Kosuke Takahashi |title=Japan Awards Contract to Shipbuilder JMU for 12 New Offshore Patrol Vessels |url=https://thediplomat.com/2022/07/japan-awards-contract-to-shipbuilder-jmu-for-12-new-offshore-patrol-vessels/|website= The Diplomat |access-date=7 September 2022}}{{Cite web |date=July 14, 2022 |author= Jr Ng |title=Japan Marine United selected to build JMSDF's next-gen OPV |url=https://www.asianmilitaryreview.com/2022/07/japan-marine-united-selected-to-build-jmsdfs-next-gen-opv/|website= Asia Military Review |access-date=7 September 2022}}

The exclusive economic zone only recognizes the economic, scientific and environmental jurisdiction of the coastal countries and entry of a foreign fishing vessel into the EEZ is not automatically illegal. With regard to the above, a law (fishing sovereignty law, EEZ Fisheries Law) concerning the exercise of sovereign rights regarding fisheries, etc. in the exclusive economic zone {{in lang|ja}} that regulates fisheries of foreigners within the exclusive economic zone of Japan was established on 14 June 1996.{{cite web |title=排他的経済水域における漁業等に関する主権的権利の行使等に関する法律 (Act on Exercise of Sovereign Rights Concerning Fisheries, etc. in Exclusive Economic Zones) |date=June 14, 1996 |publisher=Japanese Law |url=https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/排他的経済水域における漁業等に関する主権的権利の行使等に関する法律 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220124155731/https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/排他的経済水域における漁業等に関する主権的権利の行使等に関する法律 |archive-date=January 24, 2022}}{{Circular reference|date=September 2023}}

Under the law, fines of 30 million yen or less will be imposed on foreign vessels which conducted unauthorized operation or operation on prohibited waters in the EEZ.{{cite book |last1=Chaumette |first1=Patrick |title=Maritime areas : control and prevention of illegal traffics at sea |date=2016 |url=https://hal.science/hal-01525298v1/file/Maritime_areas_control_prevention_illegal_traffics_HUMAN-SEA_Book-2.pdf |access-date=1 June 2024}} It is also a violation of the above law when a foreign fishing vessel escapes by avoiding on-site inspections by fishery supervisor/fishing supervisors on board a fisheries patrol boat (漁業取締船) of the Fisheries Agency, or by the JCG. In this case, a fine of 3 million yen or less will be imposed. Also, the collateral for early release under the bond system is set to the same amount as the fine, and an additional collateral of 6 million yen per kg of illegal coral is set for illegal coral collection.{{citation needed|date=August 2022}}

Increased grey-zone challenges from Japan's neighbors have resulted in greater dependence on the JCG, providing a response that can be more easily resolved diplomatically, and able to justify politically, rather than with an overt military response by the JMSDF.{{cite news |last1=Morris |first1=Lyle |title=Gray Zone Challenges in the East and South China Sea |url=http://www.maritimeissues.com/politics/gray-zone-tactics-and-their-challenge-to-maritime-security-in-the-east-and-south-china-sea.html |access-date=11 June 2021 |agency=Maritime Issues |date=7 January 2019}}{{cite news |last1=Tarriela |first1=Jay Tristan |title=How Abe Remade the Japan Coast Guard |url=https://thediplomat.com/2019/01/how-abe-remade-the-japan-coast-guard/ |access-date=11 June 2021 |agency=The Diplomat |date=24 January 2019}}{{cite web |last1=Pollmann |first1=Mina |title=The Ever-Evolving Importance of Japan's Coast Guard |url=https://thediplomat.com/2019/12/the-ever-evolving-importance-of-japans-coast-guard/ |agency=The Diplomat |date=12 December 2019|access-date=11 June 2021}}

{{More citations needed|date=August 2022}}

Anti-ballistic missiles for defense are very expensive, costing 500 million to 2 billion yen per shot.{{citation needed|date=August 2022}} So the launched ballistic missiles are ignored when it is known by radar that they will land on where damage to Japanese nationals and assets are not expected. Also, the nationwide warning system, (J-Alert) will only issue a warning if it is determined that the missile will enter into Japanese territory or waters. J-Alert will not be used when the missile will fall somewhere in Japan's exclusive economic zone.{{citation needed|date=August 2022}}

On August 31, 2022, The Japan Ministry of Defense announced that JMSDF will operate two "Aegis system equipped ships" (イージス・システム搭載艦 in Japanese) to replace the earlier plan of Aegis Ashore installations, commissioning one by the end of fiscal year 2027, and the other by the end of FY2028. The budget for design and other related expenses are to be submitted in the form of “item requests”, without specific amounts, and the initial procurement of the lead items are expected to clear legislation by FY2023. Construction is to begin in the following year of FY2024. At 20,000 tons each, both vessels will be the largest surface combatant warships operated by the JMSDF.{{Cite web |date=1 September 2022 |author=Lia Wong |title=Japanese Defense Budget Expansion Includes Two 20,000 Ton Cruisers |url=https://www.overtdefense.com/2022/09/01/japanese-defense-budget-expansion-includes-two-20000-ton-cruisers/|website= Overt Defense |access-date=7 September 2022}}{{Cite web |date=6 September 2022 |author= Dzirhan Mahadzir |title=Japan to Build Two 20,000-ton Missile Defense Warships, Indian Carrier Commissions |url=https://news.usni.org/2022/09/06/japan-to-build-two-massive-20000-ton-missile-defense-warships-indian-carrier-commissions#more-97081/|website= USNI News Blog |access-date=7 September 2022}}{{Cite web |date=1 September 2022 |author= Yoshihiro Inaba |title=Japan's New "Aegis Equipped Ships": What We Know So Fars |url=https://www.overtdefense.com/2022/09/01/japanese-defense-budget-expansion-includes-two-20000-ton-cruisers/|website= NavalNews |access-date=7 September 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://www.popularmechanics.com/military/navy-ships/a41123804/japan-to-build-20-000-ton-warships/|author=Kyle Mizokami|title=Japan Defense Ministry plans new Aegis destroyers in place of Aegis Ashore|date=12 September 2022|access-date=13 September 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220912200955/https://www.popularmechanics.com/military/navy-ships/a41123804/japan-to-build-20-000-ton-warships/|website=Popular Mechanics|archive-date=12 September 2022|url-status=bot: unknown}}

{{See also|Territorial disputes of Japan}}

Japan has disputes over its EEZ boundaries with all its Asian neighbors (China, Russia, South Korea, and Taiwan), including its claim of an EEZ around Okinotorishima. The above, and relevant maps at the Sea Around Us Project,[http://www.seaaroundus.org/data/#/eez/390?chart=catch-chart&dimension=taxon&measure=tonnage&limit=10 EEZ and shelf areas of Japan (main islands)] – Sea Around Us Project – Fisheries, Ecosystems & Biodiversity – Data and Visualization.[http://www.seaaroundus.org/data/#/eez/393?chart=catch-chart&dimension=taxon&measure=tonnage&limit=10 EEZ and shelf areas of Japan (Daitō Islands)] – Sea Around Us Project – Fisheries, Ecosystems & Biodiversity – Data and Visualization.[http://www.seaaroundus.org/data/#/eez/971?chart=catch-chart&dimension=taxon&measure=tonnage&limit=10 EEZ and shelf areas of Japan (Ogasawara Islands)] – Sea Around Us Project – Fisheries, Ecosystems & Biodiversity – Data and Visualization. both indicate Japan's claimed boundaries. The Kuril Islands dispute with Russia has been ongoing since the end of World War 2 with the former Soviet Union. On March 7, 2022, Prime Minister of Japan Fumio Kishida declared that the southern Kurils are "a territory peculiar to Japan, a territory in which Japan has sovereignty."{{cite web |url=https://www.jiji.com/sp/article?k=2022030701026 |website=Jiji Press |title=北方領土は「固有の領土」 岸田首相 |date=March 7, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220307221640/https://www.jiji.com/sp/article?k=2022030701026 |archive-date=March 7, 2022}}

Japan also refers to various categories of "shipping area" – Smooth Water Area, Coasting Area, Major or Greater Coasting Area, Ocean Going Area – but it is unclear whether these are intended to have any territorial or economic implications.{{citation needed|date=August 2022}}

On 4 August 2022, during military exercises, five ballistic missiles launched by China fell into Japan's exclusive economic zone according to the Japanese government.{{Cite web |last=NEWS |first=KYODO |title=Chinese-fired ballistic missiles fall into Japan's EEZ: gov't |url=https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2022/08/a901e23a7695-urgent-chinese-fired-ballistic-missiles-fall-into-japans-eez-govt.html |access-date=2022-08-04 |website=Kyodo News+ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220804132403/https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2022/08/a901e23a7695-urgent-chinese-fired-ballistic-missiles-fall-into-japans-eez-govt.html |archive-date=August 4, 2022}} They landed southwest of Hateruma, close to Taiwan. The exercises were conducted in response to the 2022 visit by Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan and raised tensions in the region. The Japanese government filed formal complaints to Beijing.{{cite web |title=China's missle [sic] landed in Japan's Exclusive Economic Zone |website=Asahi |date=August 5, 2022 |url=https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/14687821 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220812063020/https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/14687821 |archive-date=August 12, 2022}} The Chinese foreign ministry later expressed that boundaries between Japan and China over the waters involved have not been drawn up yet.{{cite web |title=2022年8月4日外交部发言人华春莹主持例行记者会_中华人民共和国外交部 |date=2022-08-04 |url=https://www.fmprc.gov.cn/web/fyrbt_673021/202208/t20220804_10734474.shtml |website=Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China}}

On 18 November 2022 a ballistic missile launched by North Korea landed in Japan's exclusive economic zone.{{cite news |title=North Korean ICBM lands in Japan's exclusive economic zone, PM says |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/nov/18/north-korea-has-launched-suspected-icbm-intercontinental-ballistic-missile-says-south |work=The Guardian |date=18 November 2022 |access-date=18 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221118063747/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/nov/18/north-korea-has-launched-suspected-icbm-intercontinental-ballistic-missile-says-south |archive-date=November 18, 2022}}

• Geography of Japan

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{{World topic|title=Exclusive economic zones|Exclusive economic zone of|noredlinks=yes}}

Japan

Category:Borders of Japan

Category:Economy of Japan

Category:Territorial disputes of Japan

Category:China–Japan relations

Category:Japan–South Korea relations