Four Chinese ships in disputed waters: Japan

TOKYO (AFP) - Four Chinese government ships sailed into the territorial waters of disputed islands controlled by Tokyo in the East China Sea on Friday, Japan's coastguard said.

The maritime surveillance vessels entered the 12-nautical-mile zone around Kubashima, one of the islands in the chain called the Senkakus by Japan and the Diaoyus by China, shortly before 1:00 pm (12noon SIngapore time).

Chinese vessels have been spotted in and around the territorial waters almost every day for the last two months.

Beijing on Monday branded a US-Japan security treaty "a product of the Cold War" when Washington lawmakers reiterated their support for Japan by passing amendment to the National Defense Authorization Bill.