Date : 03/10/2012
TOKYO, Oct 3 (KUNA) -- Three Chinese maritime surveillance ships entered
Japanese territorial waters around the disputed Tokyo-controlled islands in
the East China Sea on Wednesday, Japan Coast Guard said.
The three vessels moved into Japan's waters shortly after 12:30 p.m. (0330
GMT) despite warnings, and left the area by about 3:20 p.m., one day after a
similar incident.
The vessels belong to China's State Oceanic Administration, the coast guard
said.
Four Chinese surveillance vessels also entered Japanese waters yesterday
around the Senkaku Islands, which are administered by Japan but also claimed
by China and Taiwan.
The small chain of uninhabited rocky islands, known as Diaoyu in China and
Tiaoyutai in Taiwan, lie in rich fishing grounds and waters thought to contain
large deposits of oil and natural gas.
Bilateral relations have worsened since the nationalization by the Japanese
government of the islets on Sept. 11, which led to China's massive anti-Japan
protests, with some cases escalating to vandalism, looting and arson targeting
Japanese factories, shops and restaurants.
In Tokyo, the government lodged a protest with China over the intrusion
through diplomatic channels. Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba said
earlier in the day that Japan will continue dialogue with China to resolve the
escalating territorial dispute over the islands.
"Relations with China are very important for Japan and we must calmly
handle China's claims without losing a broad perspective," Gemba told foreign
ministry officials. (end)
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