JMSA guards territorial sea by preventing or eliminating illegal acts, unjustifiable entry and other harmful passage there, to ensure order and security at sea. In 1995, JMSA confirmed that 387 foreign ships (of which 311 were fishing vessels) had committed illegal acts, such as illegal fishing, or exhibited suspicious behavior, such as prowling, in Japanese territorial waters. Of these ships, JMSA conducted on-the-spot inspections of 100 ships suspected of committing illegal acts, and then forced 57 ships to withdraw from the area immediately upon issuing them a warning, and arrested 15 ships found to be committing especially corrupt acts. In addition, JMSA found 287 ships exhibiting suspicious behavior and ordered them to suspend the behavior in question, forced them to withdraw from the area upon issuing them a warning or employed other necessary measures against them.
In addition, JMSA, along with instructing them to notify the agency in advance, monitored the movements and otherwise watched the 4,150 foreign ships that made an emergency entrance into Japan's territorial sea to seek refuge, etc., from stormy weather conditions, in order to prevent these foreign ships from participating in illegal acts, such as illegal immigration and smuggling, during their emergency entrance.
In the waters surrounding the Senkaku Islands, many Taiwanese fishing vessels fish for catches, such as flying fish, year round and Chinese fishing vessels usually fish for catches, such as filefish, from March to April.
It is for this reason that JMSA deploys patrol vessels regularly and has its aircraft patrol the area at all times. In addition, it reinforces these patroling activities and conducts stringent surveillance during the periods when especially large numbers of these fishing vessels are operating in this area.
The Republic of Korea continues to occupy Takeshima Island, located in the southwestern region of the Sea of Japan. It constructed a lighthouse and other facilities, as well as stations security personnel permanently on the island. Moreover, Korean warships and other vessels guard and patrol the waters surrounding Takeshima at all times.
The problems concerning Takeshima Island are receiving much attention in connection with UNCLOS ratification. JMSA has always followed the Japanese government's policy that it should strive to resolve the Takeshima Island problem peacefully through diplomatic channels. In this regard, JMSA acts to ensure the safety of Japanese fishing vessels. It regularly deploys patrol vessels and carries out surveillance and guidance to prevent the seizure, etc., of Japanese ships, by taking into consideration factors such as the fishing
