MOSCOW, September 26 (RIA Novosti) – A Chinese vessel is apparently conducting a maritime survey in Japan's exclusive economic zone off the disputed Senkaku Islands, Japan's national public broadcasting organization NHK reported Friday.
"The [Japanese] Coast Guard says its aircraft spotted the Chinese maritime research vessel dragging what appeared to be a wire on Friday morning," NHK said, adding that the ship was sailing in an area "about 170 kilometers [105 miles] north of Kuba Island in the Senkaku chain."
According to NHK, Japanese Coast Guard patrollers told the vessel that "unauthorized research in Japan's economic waters is not allowed," and urged it to stop. The Chinese ship did not respond and the coast guard sent vessels to monitor its activities.
Earlier in September, another Chinese ship conducted similar activities off the Senkaku islands.
The uninhabited islands of Senkaku, currently administrated by Japan, are subjects of a major territorial dispute between Japan and China. In 2013, China included the islands in its Air Defense Identification Zone. Japanese, Chinese and Taiwanese navies have carried out exercises in the area, sparking mutual accusations of provocations and increasing military tensions in the region.
