Japan Protests China's Armed Vessel Patrolling Around The Waters Of Disputed Islands

Japan Coast Guard Vessel in Senkaku Islands. (Wikimedia Commons/Al Jazeera English)

JAKARTA - Japan lodged a protest against Beijing on Friday, after four armed Chinese coast guard vessels entered the waters of disputed islands.

The Japanese government says this is the first time four Chinese ships carrying what looks like cannons have entered territorial waters in the East China Sea, around disputed islands, which Tokyo calls Senkaku and Beijing as Diaoyu.

"I am not in a position to state what the Chinese side intends, but the infiltration of ships belonging to the Chinese coast guard into the region (we) is a violation of international law," Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi told a news conference.

Tokyo filed a "hard protest" through diplomatic channels calling for immediate departure from the region, Hayashi said.

The four ships were in the area for more than an hour and left shortly after noon, he said.

"The seizure into our territorial waters is very regrettable and intolerable. We will continue to do our best to be vigilant and monitor the area around the Senkaku Islands with an urgency, while facing China calmly and firmly," Hayashi said.

Separately, China's coast guard said they had patrolled the waters with ships carrying weapons.

It said the patrol was a "routine act" to safeguard sovereignty, security and maritime rights, as well as "the necessary measures" for peace and stability as well as to counter Japan's recent "negative measures".

"We advise the Japanese to exercise caution in their words and actions, to exercise self-reflection and stop provocations," the Chinese coast guard said, adding it would step up what he called an "law enforcement effort".

It is known that the two countries have repeatedly faced off around the uninhabited island managed by Japan.