UPDATE - Japan protests 'intrusion' by Chinese military ship

UPDATES WITH STATEMENT FROM CHINA

By Efe Ozkan

ISTANBUL (AA) - Japan once again protested the "intrusion" by a Chinese military ship into Japanese waters on Monday.

Addressing a press conference posted online, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hayashi Yoshimasa said that Japan lodged a diplomatic protest with China over a Chinese survey vessel’s entry into Japanese waters off Kagoshima Province on Saturday.

Hayashi claimed that it would be difficult to assess definitively the intent and purpose of these naval intrusions.

China defended the entry of its navy survey ship into Japan's territorial waters near its southwestern islands over the weekend, stating on Monday that the passage was "completely legitimate" and that the vessel was exercising its right to transit, according to Kyodo News.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning stated at a press conference that the sea area is used "for international navigation" under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, and added that there is no need to "deliberately associate or over-interpret" the two recent incidents.

In recent years, Japan has repeatedly reported incursions by Chinese ships into its territorial waters in the East China Sea, particularly around the Japanese-controlled Senkaku Islands, which China also claims.

The two countries have long been at odds over the Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands.

Hayashi stated that Japan will continue to keep a close watch on China's moves with strong concern.