Senkaku: Four Chinese ships in disputed waters

[Vikrant]

TOKYO: Four Chinese ships entered waters around islands at the centre of a bitter dispute with Japan on Saturday with no sign of a compromise seen between Asia's two largest powers.

The four Chinese coastguard vessels sailed into the 12-nautical-mile territorial waters around the Tokyo-controlled Senkaku islands - which Beijing calls the Diaoyus - Saturday morning, the Japanese coastguard said.

The moves came after the first anniversary Wednesday of Tokyo's nationalisation of part of the chain. On the eve of the anniversary, a flotilla of eight Chinese ships entered the territorial band of waters.

Often-testy ties have soured dramatically over the last 12 months, with frequent confrontations between official ships from both sides.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Thursday vowed to beef up his country's defence capability amid the row with China.

Japan annexed what it says were unclaimed islands in 1895. It says China's assertion of ownership only came after the discovery of resources in the seabed at the close of the 1960s.

Beijing maintains that the islands have been its territory for hundreds of years and were illegally snatched by Tokyo at the start of an acquisitive romp across Asia that culminated in World War II.

Four Chinese ships in disputed waters: Japan - The Times of India

 

[Unkotare]

Chinese cook rescued after hot-air balloon crashes near disputed isles ? Japan Today: Japan News and Discussion

 

[waltky]

Granny says, "Dat's right - China tryin' to provoke a fight...

Armed Chinese ship seen near disputed islands, Japan says
Thu, Dec 24, 2015 - A Chinese coast guard ship equipped with what appeared to be four gun turrets was sighted near disputed islands in the East China Sea, Japan’s coast guard said yesterday.

Chinese coast guard vessels sail regularly near the islets, but a Japanese coast guard spokeswoman said it was the first time an armed Chinese ship had been spotted in the area. “We have delivered our strong protest and requested to stop the activities near the Senkaku Islands [Diaoyutai Islands, (釣魚台列嶼)] immediately,” Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokeswoman Takako Ito said in an e-mail.

China Coast Guard vessel No. 31239 sails near the disputed Diaoyutai Islands in the East China Sea on Tuesday​

She referred to a group of tiny, uninhabited islands by their Japanese name, which Taiwan also states claims to. “Japan will continue to act firmly and calmly, under the principle of resolutely defending our territorial land, sea and air,” Ito said. The vessel, first sighted on Tuesday afternoon, was sailing 29km off one of the contested islands as of 9am yesterday, Japan’s coast guard said. Sino-Japanese ties have long been mired by a dispute over the islands.

Patrol ships and fighter jets from both sides regularly shadow each other near the islands, stoking concern that an accidental collision could trigger a clash. Japan, in 2013, said a Chinese People’s Liberation Army naval vessel aimed fire control radar — normally used to aim weapons at a target — at a Japanese naval ship in the East China Sea, prompting Japan to protest.

Armed Chinese ship seen near disputed islands, Japan says - Taipei Times

 

[waltky]

China lookin' into it...

Chinese navy ship sails close to disputed territory, Japan protests
Thursday 9th June, 2016 - The Chinese ambassador was reportedly summoned by Japan on June 9 to express concern over a Chinese navy ship sailing close to Japan’s territorial waters on the East China Sea for the first time.

According to reports, Japan has said that the Chinese ship sailed within 24 miles of the contested territory after midnight, in the islands known as Senkaku in Japan and the Diaoyu in China. The Chinese ambassador in Tokyo Cheng Yonghua was summoned by Japan’s Vice Foreign Minister Akitaka Saiki at 2 am. Saiki reportedly expressed ‘serious concern’ over the matter. Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, at a press conference, said, "We are worried that this action raises tensions to a higher level. Related ministries are working together to deal with this and we will work closely with the U.S.”

China’s ships have at times come close to or entered waters that Japan claims to be its own but the June 9 incident was the first time Chinese ships sailed into that area. A Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force guided-missile destroyer, Setogiri, reportedly confirmed that a Chinese ship entered an area northeast of Kuba island, part of the disputed Senkakus, and stayed there for two-and-a-half hours. Also reports said that three Russian battleships came close to territory at the same time that Japan claims to be its own. Suga said, “We’re investigating and analysing whether the two incidents are related.”

However, Chinese Defence Ministry said that that it was looking into the reports and added that its navy has every right to operate on Chinese waters. The Defence Ministry reportedly said, “Chinese naval ships sailing through waters our country has jurisdiction over is reasonable and legal. No other country has the right to make thoughtless remarks about this.” According to reports, the U.S. is bound by a security treaty to come to Japan’s aid and Washington is obligated to defend Japan against any attacks. Colin Willett, U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, said, “We are aware of the reports and have been in touch with the Japanese government. Until I have a little more detail, I can't really comment on exactly what (Washington's) reaction is.”

Chinese navy ship sails close to disputed territory Japan protests

See also:

China looking into reports its navy sailed near disputed islands
June 9, 2016 - China's Defence Ministry said on Thursday it was looking into reports a Chinese navy ship sailed close to what Japan considers its territorial waters in the East China Sea, near disputed islands.

In a statement sent to Reuters, the ministry said the islands, known in China as the Diaoyus, are Chinese, and that China's navy had every right to operate in Chinese waters.

China looking into reports its navy sailed near disputed islands

 

[Vikrant]

^ The second report you posted is very interesting. I have talked about it in the past in my exchange with another poster here. This basically confirms what I have said in the past about PLA and PLAN: The Party does not have firm control over PLA or PLAN. There are rogue elements in the Chinese military that have their own agenda which is even more radical than that of The Party.