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Chinese Ships Have Entered Waters of Disputed Senkaku Islands

Sputnik News

18:16 25.11.2014(updated 18:52 25.11.2014)

Three Chinese vessels have entered Japanese territorial waters around the disputed Diaoyu/Senkaku islands, the Japanese Coast Guard reported. It is the first 'intrusion' since November 3, which has ruined hopes for reconciliation between the two countries.

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.

'Three Chinese coastguard vessels sailed into the 12-nautical-mile zone around the Japanese-controlled Senkaku islands, which China claims and calls the Diaoyus, shortly after 10 a.m., the Japanese coastguard said. They left two hours later,' Agence France-Presse reported.

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.

After the summit with Xi Jinping, Abe pointed out that 'Japan and China need each other.' Thus far, the meeting on November 10, 2014 was considered 'a symbolic first step towards reconciliation,' Agence France-Presse notes. However, it has turned out the longstanding dispute is not over yet.

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.

© Sputnik