China, Japan Trade Claims After Confrontation Near Disputed Islands

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Tokyo : China and Japan accused each other on Tuesday of intruding into waters near the disputed Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands, with both countries claiming they had driven away the other's vessels.

China's coast guard said it expelled a Japanese fishing boat that had entered what Beijing considers its territorial waters, adding that its vessels took the necessary measures to warn and remove the boat.

Japan, however, said two Chinese coast guard ships had entered its territorial waters while approaching a Japanese fishing vessel operating in the area. Tokyo said its coast guard ordered the Chinese vessels to leave and escorted the fishing boat to ensure its safety.

Japanese authorities said four Chinese coast guard ships were operating near the islands, with two entering Japanese-claimed waters. Tokyo described the incident as a violation of international law and said it would continue to protect its territorial waters.

The uninhabited islands, known as the Senkaku in Japan and the Diaoyu in China, have long been a source of tension between the two countries, with both claiming sovereignty over the territory.

Pic Credit: AFP| File Image

The islands known as Senkaku in Japan are claimed by China but administered by Tokyo