Japan says China ships spotted close to disputed islands
Japanese coastguard sights ships from China in area around disputed islands as Tokyo conducts naval drills
Four Chinese coastguard ships sailed into disputed waters off islands in the East China Sea on Saturday, Japanese officials said, as Tokyo continued a massive drill aimed at bolstering defence of the remote islands it claims as its territory.
The vessels entered 12-nautical-mile territorial waters at about 9.25am off one of the islands, called the Senkakus by the Japanese and the Diaoyus by China which also claims the archipelago, the Japan Coast Guard said.
Nine days ago, four Chinese coastguard ships were also spotted sailing through the waters, according to the Japanese coastguard.
China’s state-owned ships and aircraft have approached the area on and off to demonstrate Beijing’s territorial claims, especially after Japan nationalised some of the islands in September last year.
The vessels have been engaged by Japanese coastguard ships with the two sides trading warnings and claims of sovereignty.
Usually the Chinese boats stay for a few hours and then move out into waters that, under international definitions, lie outside the territorial zone.