TOKYO: Japan protested to China on Thursday over the presence of Chinese coast guard vessels in waters near disputed islands in the East China Sea, in what Tokyo says was China's longest incursion into the area so far.
Foreign minister Fumio Kishida said Japan conveyed its outrage to China and strongly urged an immediate exit of all Chinese vessels in Japanese territory.
A foreign ministry official said Tokyo conveyed its objections to the incursion by four Chinese vessels by phone several times and then summoned the acting Chinese ambassador, Han Zhiqiang, to receive the protest in person.
The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue, said Han defended China's stance and rejected the protest but agreed to convey the Japanese message to Beijing.
The ministry said the incursion lasted 28 hours and was the longest by Chinese vessels so far.
The two sides have been locked in a potentially volatile territorial dispute over several small islands controlled by Tokyo but claimed by both countries.
Japan protests incursion by Chinese ships - The Times of India
Foreign minister Fumio Kishida said Japan conveyed its outrage to China and strongly urged an immediate exit of all Chinese vessels in Japanese territory.
A foreign ministry official said Tokyo conveyed its objections to the incursion by four Chinese vessels by phone several times and then summoned the acting Chinese ambassador, Han Zhiqiang, to receive the protest in person.
The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue, said Han defended China's stance and rejected the protest but agreed to convey the Japanese message to Beijing.
The ministry said the incursion lasted 28 hours and was the longest by Chinese vessels so far.
The two sides have been locked in a potentially volatile territorial dispute over several small islands controlled by Tokyo but claimed by both countries.
Japan protests incursion by Chinese ships - The Times of India
