## Figure II-2-5-2 Preservation of the Low-Tide Area

Promoting Measures Regarding the "Law on the Development of Base Facilities and Preservation of the Low-Tide Line for the Promotion of Use and Conservation of the Exclusive Economic Zone and Continental Shelf (Low-Tide Preservation Act)" (effective in June 2010)

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- In the waters surrounding the low-tide line that forms the basis for demarcating the limits of the exclusive economic zone and others, areas requiring conservation are specified as the low-water line preservation areas (185 areas) where activities are restricted.

- Satellite images, disaster prevention helicopters, and ships are used to monitor and research the conditions of the low-tide line and any artificial damages or natural erosion.

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- In order to ensure that the development and usage of maritime resources and maritime research activities are implemented safely and steadily in waters located far away from the mainland, the MLIT Minister implements the development and management of port facilities (designated remote island port facilities: the development details are stated in the basic plan).

(Minamitorishima Island) Project started FY 2010

(Okinotorishima Island) Project started in FY 2011

Exclusive Economic Zone and position of Minamitorishima Island and Okinotishima Island (Quoted from the website of the marine information division of the Japan Coast Guard, with additions made)

(iii) Developing and Managing Bases of Activities in Specified Remote Islands (Minamitorishima Island and Okinotorishima Island)

In accordance with the Low-Tide Preservation Act, port facilities are being developed in Minamitorishima Island and Okinotorishima Island, which are located in areas remote from the mainland, to enable the mooring and berthing of vessels and cargo handling as operational bases for the conservation and usage of the exclusive economic zone and continental shelf with a management system by the government being established.

## Section 6 Protecting Territorial Land and Territorial Waters Firmly

## (1) Situation in Recent Years

Intrusions into Japan’s territorial waters around the Senkaku Islands by Chinese government vessels, etc. and sovereignty claims by activists of Chinese, Taiwanese and others have taken place in recent years. Especially, since September 2012, China’s government-owned vessels navigated into the contiguous zone almost every day, except days of bad weather, and repeatedly intruded into the waters at a frequency of about three times a month. Moreover, foreign fishing vessels continue to operate in the same waters. Under the policy of protecting Japan’s territories and waters at all cost, the Japan Coast Guard is responding to these circumstances in a calm but firm manner by taking such measures as deploying patrol vessels in the waters so that the situation will not escalate. In February 2016, a full-time security system for Senkaku waters by 14 large patrol vessels was established in order to make sure to be able to handle China’s government-owned vessels in the waters surrounding the Senkaku Islands.

In the waters around the Ogasawara Islands, Chinese coral vessels, which were found in large numbers since September 2014, have not been detected after the detection in late January 2015. However, given that the situation is still unpredictable, with the subsequent occurrence of an arrest in the Japan’s exclusive economic zone in the west Kyushu region, the Japan Coast Guard is continuing strict monitoring and crackdown in coordination with the Fisheries Agency and other relevant organizations.