China, Japan make contradictory claims about vessels in disputed waters

By Alperen Aktas

ISTANBUL (AA) - China and Japan made contradictory claims about vessels illegally entering each other’s territory in disputed waters.

Chinese Coast Guard spokesman Gan Yu reported that a Japanese vessel and several boats entered Chinese territorial waters Monday around the Diaoyu Islands, known in Japan as the Senkaku Islands.

Gan urged Japan to immediately stop illegal activities in the area and ensure similar incidents do not happen.

He added that Chinese vessels took lawful measures and warned the Japanese boats.

And Japan’s Coast Guard reported that two Chinese Coast Guard vessels entered Japanese territorial waters Monday off the coast of the islands, according to NHK News.

The Japan Coast Guard headquarters warned the Chinese vessels to prevent them from approaching Japanese fishing boats.

The islands have long been a point of tension for both countries. China and Japan have declared the islands as their territory with different names.