Chinese Vessels In Waters Off Senkaku Islands
The Japan Coast Guard says four Chinese government vessels entered Japan's territorial waters off the Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea.
Coast Guard officials say two of the ships left the waters, but two others still appear to be approaching a Japanese fishing boat and they are on the alert.
The officials say two Chinese ships entered waters off Taisho Island shortly after 4 a.m. Tuesday. They say the other two have been inside Japanese waters since Monday at around noon.
The Japan Coast Guard says its patrol ships are surrounding the Japanese fishing boat, while warning the Chinese ships to leave the territorial waters.
Officials say one of the ships that left the waters on Tuesday morning appears to be equipped with a cannon. They say there was no sign of an attempt to use the weapon, but that they're raising their alert level.
China has recently enacted a law that authorizes its coast guard to use weapons against foreign ships that illegally enter areas claimed as its territorial waters.
Japanese Coast Guard officials say this is the first time a Chinese ship with a large artillery piece has entered Japan's waters since the law took effect earlier this month.
Japan controls the islands. China and Taiwan claim them. The Japanese government maintains that the islands are an inherent part of Japan's territory, in terms of history and international law. It says there is no issue of sovereignty to be resolved.