9 Dec

Officials at the Japan Coast Guard say four official Chinese vessels have entered Japan's territorial waters off the Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea. Coast guard officials are warning the vessels to leave the waters immediately.

The officials say the four vessels entered the waters off Uotsuri Island one after another from 9:40 a.m. on Wednesday.

They say that as of 10:00 a.m., the vessels were spotted sailing inside Japan's territorial waters from about 19 to 23 kilometers north-northwest of the island.

Japan controls the Senkaku islands. China and Taiwan claim them. The Japanese government maintains the islands are an inherent part of Japan's territory, in terms of history and international law. It says there is no issue of sovereignty to be resolved over them.

nhk