Japan says four Chinese ships in disputed waters
JAPAN: Four Chinese government ships were sailing in the territorial
waters of disputed Tokyo-controlled islands on Tuesday, the coastguard
said, the day after Japan's premier promised to beef up security.
The maritime surveillance ships entered the 12-nautical-mile zone of
territorial waters around one of the East China Sea islands at around
0200 GMT, the coastguard said.
Separately, two fisheries patrol ships were spotted in the so-called
contiguous waters, which extend a further 12 nautical miles, of another
island in the chain, coastguards said.
The latest move came after Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda
said Monday Tokyo would "strengthen security" around its coast.
Chinese vessels have moved in and out of what Japan says is its
sovereign territory over the last nearly two months since Tokyo
nationalised some of the islands, known as the Senkakus in Japan and
Diaoyus in China. As well as the potential mineral reserves to which
ownership of the islands grants access, both countries have considerable
amounts of national pride at stake in the decades-old spat.
The dispute has hit the huge trade relationship between the two
largest economies in the region.
Senior representatives from both governments are reportedly readying
for a third round of talks on the issue.
AFP
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