Japan lodged a protest against Beijing on Friday after four armed Chinese coast guard ships entered waters that Tokyo considers its territory.
The Japanese government said it was the first time four Chinese ships carrying what appeared to be cannons had entered territorial waters in the East China Sea around the disputed islands, which Tokyo calls the Senkakus and Beijing the Diaoyu.
“I am not in a position to say what the intentions of the Chinese side are, but the intrusion of Chinese coast guard ships into (our) territory is a violation of international law,” Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said at a news conference.
