Japan is weighing how to manage fishing around the Senkaku Islands as tensions with China rise, quietly asking some fishermen to avoid trips to prevent a broader clash.

There have been concrete steps, including a coast guard order to halt Nakama’s planned voyage and a December Tokyo meeting where the finance minister warned that small incidents could escalate into war.

Despite warnings, fishermen like Nakama remain personally committed to continuing fishing near the islands as long as their boats can operate.

The broader context includes past incidents in 2010 and 2012 and ongoing strategic competition involving the United States under its Japan security treaty.

Overall, Tokyo is trying to balance asserting sovereignty with avoiding a crisis with Beijing.

The article portrays a careful equilibrium between demonstrating control and preventing escalation that could draw China and possibly the United States into a larger conflict.

Officials cited by Reuters, including Ishigaki Mayor Yoshitaka Nakayama and security analyst Robert Ward of IISS, stress the fragile balance between sovereignty and avoiding escalation.

The United States opposes unilateral changes to the East China Sea status quo, though it did not explicitly comment on the December discussions.

The situation is calibrated to prevent detentions or inspections of fishermen, which could trigger a broader international incident.

The dispute has intensified after comments by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and rising Chinese push, with U.S. involvement adding complexity.

There has been a significant decline in Japanese fishing trips to the islands in recent years, with only a handful of visits left, though some fishermen stay engaged for economic reasons and to demonstrate presence.

Officials, including fishermen, business supporters and a finance minister, signal high-level concern about detentions or inspections by Chinese authorities.