MOSCOW, November 25 (Sputnik), Ekaterina Blinova — Three Chinese ships have entered Japanese territorial waters around the disputed Diaoyu/Senkaku Islands on Tuesday, November 25, according to Japan Coast Guard.
The dispute between China and Japan over the chain of uninhabited Diaoyu/Senkaku islands has long been a stumbling block to improving mutual relations of the two states. Remarkably, until Tuesday, China's ships had not entered the disputed waters since November 3. The meeting between President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on November 10 was widely expected as a chance to overcome the discord. This temporary "lull" gave Japan a hope for détente.
JIJI, the Japan's media source, points out that it is "the first such intrusion" by a Chinese ship since November 3, and "the 28th such intrusion this year."
"According to the Coast Guard's 11th regional headquarters in Naha, Okinawa Prefecture, the Haijing 2102, the Haijing 2151 and the Haijing 2337 were spotted in Japanese waters north of Uotsuri, the largest island in the Senkaku chain," JIJI reported.
The media outlet emphasizes that a Japanese Coast Guard patrol ship demanded that the three ships should leave the area. In response the Haijiing 2337 said that the Diaoyu islands are "China's inherent territory" and refused to follow the orders.
