Armed Chinese Vessel Enters Japanese Territorial Waters - Coast Guard

An armed Chinese government vessel entered Japan’s territorial waters Saturday, the Japanese coast guard said, as cited by the local media.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – The ship, equipped with what the Japan Coast Guard reportedly said were cannons, was accompanied by two other unarmed Chinese vessels, according to the Kyodo news agency.

The ships were reportedly spotted sailing near the disputed Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea, the media reported, citing the 11th Regional Coast Guard Headquarters based in Naha, Okinawa Prefecture.

The coast guard said that it was the first time a China Coast Guard vessel carrying what appeared to be cannons was found entering Japanese waters.

The Senkaku Islands, known as the Diaoyu in China, are the subject to long-standing regional territorial disputes between China, Japan and Taiwan. The islands are part of Japan's Okinawa Prefecture.

Last year, Japan and China agreed to reduce tensions over the disputed islands, giving way to possible resolution of the stand.

However, Chinese vessels repeatedly intruded Japanese territorial waters around the Senkaku Islands this year. Another Chinese ship was spotted in the area earlier this week.