Japan spots 230 Chinese boats off disputed isletsTOKYO: 230 Chinese fishing vessels and six coast guard ships, including three apparently carrying weapons, sailed into waters close to disputed East China Sea islands on Saturday, Japan’s foreign ministry said. However, it is rare for so many Chinese fishing vessels to be spotted in the area. Japan also lodged a protest in June after it said a Chinese navy frigate sailed close to territorial waters near the islands for the first time. The foreign ministry, which also submitted a protest its embassy in Beijing, demanded the vessels leave the disputed waters immediately and “never enter Japan’s territorial waters”, the ministry said in a statement. “Japan can never accept activities by (Chinese) official vessels near the Senkaku islands, because it will unilaterally escalate the situation and raise tensions in the area,” it said.

Source: Manila Times August 06, 2016 06:22 UTC