China ships enter waters off disputed islands

Tokyo:  Three Chinese ships entered disputed waters off Tokyo-controlled islands in the East China Sea on Sunday, the Japanese coastguard said, the first such incursion this year.

The Chinese coastguard vessels sailed into the 12-nautical-mile territorial waters at about 8:30 am (2330 GMT Saturday) off one of the Senkaku islands, which China also claims and calls the Diaoyus, Japan`s coastguard said.

They left less than two hours later.

Chinese state-owned ships and aircraft have approached the Senkakus on and off to demonstrate Beijing`s territorial claims, especially after Japan nationalised some of the islands in September 2012. Sunday`s intrusion was the first since December 29 when three Chinese coastguard ships entered the zone and stayed for around three hours.