China’s Military Activities in the East China Sea: Implications for Japan’s Air Self-Defense Force

A long-standing rivalry between China and Japan has intensified in recent years, owing in part to growing parity between the two Asian great powers. The authors examine how China has stepped up its surface and air activities near Japan, particularly near the Senkaku Islands. They survey the patterns in Chinese vessel and air activity, consider Japan’s responses, and offer suggestions for the United States and Japan to manage emerging challenges.