According to local media, the Chinese warship entered an area outside Japan's territorial waters near the Kitadaito Island. The Dongdiao-class vessel left the co-called contiguous zone approximately an hour later.
"We have seen relevant reports by the Japanese media; the Chinese warship was sailing the waters near Japan during its normal navigation which is fully in accordance with the relevant principles of international law. We are puzzled by the recent repeated unfounded speculation against the legitimate actions of the Chinese warship," the Chinese Defense Ministry said.
On Wednesday, Tokyo voiced concern after Japanese jets spotted a Chinese intelligence ship navigating close to the Japanese island of Kuchinoerabu. Japan has repeatedly accused the Chinese Navy of coming into the Japanese territorial waters, in particular sailing in the contiguous zone near the disputed Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea, which are claimed by both Tokyo and Beijing.
In 2014, Japan and China agreed to reduce tensions over the disputed islands. However, Chinese vessels repeatedly intruded into Japanese territorial waters around the Senkaku Islands in 2015.
