# grey‑zone

China’s Coast Guard Signals Near‑Constant Presence Around Diaoyu Islands as Patrols Surge

China’s Coast Guard reports 550,000 vessel sorties and 6,000 air missions since the 2021 Coast Guard Law, with patrols around the Diaoyu Islands reaching 357 days in 2025. The data signal a sustained, law‑framed push to normalize Chinese control in contested maritime zones, complicating ties with Japan, the United States and Southeast Asian claimants.