(CNN) A rocky, uninhabited island chain in the East China Sea has soured relations between Beijing and Tokyo for decades. Headlines about Asian tensions have been dominated by China's activities in the South China Sea , but analysts say the dispute further north is approaching a slow boil. This disputed islands in the East China Sea are known as Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China. "Their Coast Guard vessels are larger than Japan's and, in some cases, better armed albeit with defensive weapons only," Schuster says. He added that China views the patrols as no different to the Freedom of Navigation patrols that the US conducts regularly in the South China Sea.

Source: CNN February 07, 2017 08:15 UTC