East China Sea

East China Sea Latest News

China’s Liaoning aircraft carrier recently entered the East China Sea near Japan’s Senkaku Islands for the first time, conducting aggressive military drills close to Japanese territory.

About East China Sea

• It is an arm of the Western Pacific Ocean, located in East Asia.
• It is a semi-closed sea bordered by the Yellow Sea to the north, the South China Seaand Taiwan to the south, Japan’s Ryukyu and Kyushu islands to the east, and the Chinese mainland to the west. 
• It connects with the Japan Sea via the Tsushima Strait and the South China Sea via the Taiwan Strait.
• The East China Sea and the South China Sea together form the China Sea.
• The countries which border the sea include South Korea, Japan, the Republic of China (Taiwan), and the People’s Republic of China.
• The western edge of the sea is a continuation of the shelf that extends between the South China Sea and the Yellow Sea.
• The East China Sea has an area of about 290,000 square miles (750,000 sq.km.) and is largely shallow; almost three-fourths of the sea is less than 650 feet (200 metres).
• Rivers: The Yellow River (Huanghe) and the Yangtze River (Changjiang) discharge into the East China Sea, providing much fresh water and suspended particles.
• Weather in the East China Sea region is dominated by the monsoon winds.
• Islands: The sea contains several islands, with the most significant being the Ryukyu Islands, which are part of Japan, and the Diaoyu Islands (known as the Senkaku Islands in Japan), which are a source of territorial dispute between China and Japan.
• The East China Sea has a huge presence of submerged reefs in the northern region, such as Yajiao Rock, Hupijiao Rock, and Socotra Rock.
• Approximately 35% of global petroleum and petroleum product shipments traveled through the East China Sea in 2023.

East China Sea FAQs

Q1: The East China Sea is a part of which larger ocean?

Ans: Pacific Ocean

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Q2: Which major rivers discharge into the East China Sea?

Ans: Yellow River and Yangtze River

Q3: What countries border the East China Sea?

Ans: The countries which border the sea include South Korea, Japan, the Republic of China (Taiwan), and the People’s Republic of China.

Source: ET