Japan Protests after Chinese Ships Enter Waters of Senkakus

Hirokazu Matsuno, Chief Cabinet Secretary of Japan, said his country has sent a letter to protest to China through diplomatic channels, over the entry of a Chinese patrol ship into Japanese territorial waters.

"The activities of the Chinese coast guard vessels are a violation of international law. We have sent a strong protest through diplomatic channels and called for the vessels to be withdrawn immediately. Entering our waters in the Senkaku Islands is extremely regrettable and unacceptable," Matsuno stated in a press conference.

The chief cabinet secretary also confirmed that the Japanese authorities intend to "continue to closely monitor the area around the Senkaku Islands and take retaliatory steps toward the Chinese side in a peaceful manner."

According to the Japan Coast Guard, two Chinese ships entered the territorial waters around the islands on Tuesday morning, the 12th time since the beginning of the year.

It is worth mentioning that the Senkaku Islands (Diaoyu Islands in Chinese), are the subject of a territorial dispute between the two Asian countries.

Tokyo asserts that it has occupied these islands since 1895, while Beijing stresses that the Japanese maps of 1783 and 1785 classified these islands as Chinese territory.

After WW2, the Senkaku Islands came under US control and were handed over to Tokyo in 1972.