Japan calls in Chinese envoy after ship enters disputed waters
Japan has summoned China's ambassador to protest an alleged violation of what Tokyo regards as its territorial waters after a Chinese navy ship sailed close to disputed islands in East China Sea for the first time.
According to Japan’s Foreign Ministry, the Chinese naval vessel entered waters surrounding Senkaku around 00:50 am (1550 GMT) on Wednesday.
The ministry said Japan's Vice Foreign Minister Akitaka Saiki summoned the Chinese ambassador in Tokyo, Cheng Yonghua, to “express grave concerns” and urge the Chinese ship to immediately leave the area.
The Japanese Defense Ministry said later that the Chinese frigate had left the waters and sailed to the north.
A Japanese Defense Ministry official also said that three Russian military vessels had been seen in the waters around the disputed islands at around the same time.
The official said an investigation was underway to see whether the Chinese and Russian moves were in anyway related.
“The fact that (China) sent a naval ship to the contiguous waters of our Senkaku Islands for the first time is an act that unilaterally increases tension and our nation is gravely concerned,” Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said on Thursday.
The uninhabited East China Sea islands lie about 220 km (135 miles) west of Taiwan and are controlled by Tokyo but claimed by Beijing which calls them Diaoyu.
Tension between China and Japan escalated in 2012 when the Japanese government nationalized control over three of the Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea.
The uninhabited yet strategically-important island group has been under the Japanese administrative control since the reversion of Okinawa to Japan from US administrative rule in 1972.
China maintains that the islands are an inherent part of its territory and that it has indisputable sovereignty over them. The Japanese government, instead, regards them as a part of its Ishigaki Island.
Yemenis, Jordanians reiterate support for Palestinians in Gaza
Iran’s unprecedented strikes against Israel ‘legitimate’: Malaysia PM
Australia police arrest man after reports of stabbing in western Sydney
VIDEO | Iranians hold nationwide demos in support of IRGC
Syria condemns US veto of Palestine UN membership resolution
Iraqi resistance forces hit Israeli Ovda air base
Hackers break into Israeli military’s computers, access trove of documents
Tulkarm Brigade commander killed by Israeli forces in raid on refugee camp
Zionist media desperately trying to turn Israeli defeat into victory: Iran
VIDEO | Press TV's news headlines
Iran censures US veto of Palestinian request for full UN membership
This makes it easy to access the Press TV website
