Japan lodges protest over Chinese patrol vessels near Diaoyu Islands

Japan lodged an official protest yesterday after three Chinese maritime surveillance vessels entered disputed waters in the East China Sea.

Japan's coastguard said the three vessels entered waters around the disputed Diaoyu Islands, known as the Senkakus in Japan.

It was the first time Chinese vessels had sailed within 12 nautical miles of the disputed islands since Tokyo alleged on February 5 that Chinese frigates had directed fire-control radar at a Japanese destroyer and a military helicopter last month.

The incident put more strain on already tense bilateral ties. Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida said yesterday his ministry lodged a protest with the Chinese embassy in Tokyo.

"The incident cannot be accepted in any way," he said.

But China's State Oceanic Administration (SOA) said in a statement on its website the vessels were merely continuing a regular patrol. State media have given the operation extensive coverage, with China Central Television running live reports.

Sino-Japanese ties have deteriorated since September, when the Japanese government announced it was buying three of the five uninhabited islands. Tensions escalated after the radar lock-on allegations.