Tokyo:
Three Chinese government ships sailed into waters around disputed islands controlled by Tokyo today, for the first time since late May, claimed Japan's coastguard.
The Chinese maritime surveillance vessels were spotted inside the 12-nautical-mile zone off the Senkaku islands, which China calls the Diaoyus, in the East China Sea shortly before 9:30 am (0600 IST), the coastguard said.
Chinese government ships have frequently plied the contiguous waters - a zone outside territorial waters - near the disputed islands, but it was the first time they had entered Japanese-controlled waters since May 26, said the coastguard.
Ships from the two sides have been involved in a chronic stand-off as Beijing and Tokyo jostle over ownership of the strategically important and resource-rich islands.
A territorial row that dates back four decades reignited last September when Tokyo nationalised three islands in the chain, in what it said was a mere administrative change of ownership.
The Chinese maritime surveillance vessels were spotted inside the 12-nautical-mile zone off the Senkaku islands, which China calls the Diaoyus, in the East China Sea shortly before 9:30 am (0600 IST), the coastguard said.
Chinese government ships have frequently plied the contiguous waters - a zone outside territorial waters - near the disputed islands, but it was the first time they had entered Japanese-controlled waters since May 26, said the coastguard.
Ships from the two sides have been involved in a chronic stand-off as Beijing and Tokyo jostle over ownership of the strategically important and resource-rich islands.
A territorial row that dates back four decades reignited last September when Tokyo nationalised three islands in the chain, in what it said was a mere administrative change of ownership.
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