01 November 2012

News Story: China confronts Japan ships near disputed islands


BEIJING (AP): Chinese patrol boats confronted Japanese vessels near a disputed East China Sea archipelago early on Tuesday, the latest in a series of such encounters following Tokyo's nationalisation of the islands last month.

Four ships from China Marine Surveillance entered waters near the islands at 10 a m , according to a statement from the State Oceanic Administration that commands the service. The ships conducted surveillance on the on Japanese Coast Guard vessels in the area, "sternly expressed" China's sovereignty claim over the islands and "carried out expulsion measures," the administration said.

Japanese Coast Guard spokesman Yuji Kito said ships from both countries flashed signs saying they were in their own territorial waters and demanding the other side leave.

Read the full story at Brahmand