8 September 2016, 04:55 GMT
TOKYO (Sputnik) — The uninhabited Senkaku islands, known as the Diaoyutai Islands in China, have soured relations between Tokyo and Beijing for decades. They are currently controlled by Japan.
The Japan Coast Guard said that trespassing Chinese vessels stayed in Japanese waters for one-and-a-half hours despite being asked to leave.
China says that the contiguous islands have been part of its territory since ancient times. Japan argues it has been in control since 1895. The islands were briefly held by the United States and handed over to Japan in 1972.
