Japan went on alert yesterday as a Chinese surveillance vessel approached a disputed island chain at the center of a bitter territorial row between the two rivals.
The Japan Coast Guard said its patrol aircraft spotted the ship at about 8am as it sailed near the uninhabited islets in the East China Sea, known as Senkaku in Japan and the Diaoyutai Islands (釣魚台) in Taiwan, which also claims the territory.
Official Japanese aircraft and ships warned the Chinese not to enter the territorial waters that Japan claims as its own, the coast guard said in a statement.
The Chinese ship, which did not enter the territorial waters, responded that it was only patrolling the area.
It was the second time this year that a Chinese vessel sailed close to the disputed islands, as China’s increased naval activities continue to cause friction with neighboring nations.
Beijing declared late last year that it would increase patrols near the disputed islands to protect its fishing grounds, which also show prospects for possible underground energy reserves.
A row broke out in September after Japan arrested a Chinese trawler captain in the area.
ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY STAFF WRITER
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