China holds exercise in waters near disputed isles

BEIJING (AP) - China is holding a multi-agency naval exercise in the East China Sea to strengthen its response to threats to its territorial sovereignty as it spars with Japan over each country's claim to a chain of uninhabited islands.

The official Xinhua News Agency said Friday's exercise involves 11 vessels from the East China Sea fleet and eight aircraft.

It said the drills will be coordinated with the fishery administration and marine surveillance agency.

Xinhua says patrol vessels from the fishery administration and the marine surveillance agency have been stalked and harassed by foreign vessels while carrying out missions.