China ships back in waters of disputed isles, says Japan
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TOKYO (AFP) - Chinese government ships were back in waters around Japanese-controlled islands on Tuesday, the coast guard said, a week after they last left and days after heated exchanges at the United Nations (UN) General Assembly.
The four maritime surveillance ships entered the waters shortly after 12.30pm (12.30pm Singapore time), Japan's coastguard said in a statement, adding that it was telling the ships to leave the area.
"Patrol ships from our agency have been telling them to sail outside of our territorial waters. There has not been any response" from the Chinese ships, the agency said.
Two other Chinese official vessels were sailing near the island chain, but not in what Japan claims as its territorial waters, the coastguard also reported in a separate statement.
