China ships in waters around disputed islands: Japan
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TOKYO (AFP) - Three Chinese government ships on Saturday entered Japanese territorial waters around disputed islands, Japan's coastguard said, hours after a veiled US warning to Beijing not to challenge Tokyo's control.
The surveillance vessels entered waters around the islands known as the Senkakus in Japan and Diaoyus in China shortly after 9.00 am (8.00am Singapore time), the coastguard said in a statement.
The ships were spotted by Japanese coastguard vessels patrolling areas surrounding the islands in the East China Sea, controlled by Tokyo but claimed by Beijing, a coastguard official said.
China has repeatedly sailed into the waters since Japan nationalised the chain in September, a move that triggered anger and demonstrations in China.
