East China Sea, Marginal sea between China and Japan.
The East China Sea is a marginal sea between China and Japan that covers roughly 1.25 million square kilometers and borders the Yellow Sea to the north. To the south, the Taiwan Strait links this body of water with the South China Sea, forming an important maritime passage in East Asia.
Between the mid and late 19th century, numerous American whaling ships sailed these waters and contributed to the establishment of trade routes in the region. This maritime activity shaped economic ties along the East Asian coasts for decades.
Coastal communities still track fish schools that move through the water during certain seasons, using techniques passed down through generations. The name connects the geographic location between the Asian mainland and the Japanese islands with the maritime tradition of both shores.
The northern sections are shallower and therefore well suited for fishing and other maritime activities. Visitors can take trips onto the water from different coastal locations, though conditions vary considerably depending on the season.
The Okinawa Trough reaches depths of over 2,700 meters (nearly 9,000 feet) in places and marks a natural boundary between the continental shelf of China and the Japanese island chain. This abrupt fault influences local currents and marine life considerably.
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