Japan Protests as Chinese Ships Enter Disputed Waters
- 12 years ago
The Japanese government says three Chinese ships entered Japanese territorial waters near disputed islands in the East China Sea Monday, prompting an official protest.
China's Xinhua News Agency says two civilian surveillance ships were undertaking what they're calling a "rights defense" patrol near the islands, citing the State Oceanic Administration (SOA), which controls the ships.
The Japanese Coast Guard says one of the three vessels is a fishery patrol vessel.
The Chinese ships ignored orders to move out of the area.
[Osamu Fujimura, Japan Chief Cabinet Secretary]:
"We don't know if China has other intentions (for deploying ships), but we think that they are operating with a single objective. Of course, if they enter our territorial waters, we will raise objections at the highest level."
Yesterday China called off celebrations to mark the 40th anniversary of the normalization of ties between the two countries. Chinese Communist Party officials were to arrive in Tokyo today, but cancelled their trip, amidst the cooling diplomatic ties. Tensions rose after Japan bought a series of disputed islands it calls Senkaku, known as Diaoyu in Chinese.
[Osamu Fujimura, Japan Chief Cabinet Secretary]:
"It is highly regrettable since it is the 40th anniversary. We believe that individual cases should not affect the overall relationship and it is important to continually improve our strategic relationship."
Japan's Vice Foreign Minister arrives in China today to meet with his Chinese counterpart for discussions on Sino-Japanese relations.
Also today Japan Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda is off to New York for the annual gathering of the UN General Assembly, and may have to get to grips with the dispute there.
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China's Xinhua News Agency says two civilian surveillance ships were undertaking what they're calling a "rights defense" patrol near the islands, citing the State Oceanic Administration (SOA), which controls the ships.
The Japanese Coast Guard says one of the three vessels is a fishery patrol vessel.
The Chinese ships ignored orders to move out of the area.
[Osamu Fujimura, Japan Chief Cabinet Secretary]:
"We don't know if China has other intentions (for deploying ships), but we think that they are operating with a single objective. Of course, if they enter our territorial waters, we will raise objections at the highest level."
Yesterday China called off celebrations to mark the 40th anniversary of the normalization of ties between the two countries. Chinese Communist Party officials were to arrive in Tokyo today, but cancelled their trip, amidst the cooling diplomatic ties. Tensions rose after Japan bought a series of disputed islands it calls Senkaku, known as Diaoyu in Chinese.
[Osamu Fujimura, Japan Chief Cabinet Secretary]:
"It is highly regrettable since it is the 40th anniversary. We believe that individual cases should not affect the overall relationship and it is important to continually improve our strategic relationship."
Japan's Vice Foreign Minister arrives in China today to meet with his Chinese counterpart for discussions on Sino-Japanese relations.
Also today Japan Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda is off to New York for the annual gathering of the UN General Assembly, and may have to get to grips with the dispute there.
For more news and videos visit ☛ http://english.ntdtv.com
Follow us on Twitter ☛ http://twitter.com/NTDTelevision
Add us on Facebook ☛ http://on.fb.me/s5KV2C