Japan Accuses Chinese Coast Guard of Entering Disputed Waters in East China Sea

Three ships of China’s Coast Guard have conducted patrols near the disputed Senkaku (Diaoyu) Islands in the East China Sea, controlled by Tokyo and claimed by Beijing, the Japan Coast Guard (formerly the Maritime Safety Agency) said on Thursday.

TOKYO (Sputnik) – The Japan Coast Guard demanded that the Chinese vessels leave the contiguous zone and refrain from approaching the territorial waters of Japan.

In 2014, Japan and China agreed to reduce tensions over the disputed Senkaku Islands, known as Diaoyu in Chinese. Japan, however, has repeatedly accused the Chinese Navy of entering the Japanese territorial waters, in particular, sailing in the contiguous zone near the disputed Senkaku Islands.

In August, Japan summoned Chinese diplomats to protest against some 230 Chinese ships approaching the disputed islands in the East China Sea. The incident came after Japan accused eight Chinese ships (both fishing and Coast Guard vessels) of briefly entering the territorial waters of Japan that same month.