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China sends coastguard ships near disputed Diaoyus days after maritime talks with Japan
- Both sides say Chinese patrol sailed in waters off the Diaoyu Islands, claimed by Japan as the Senkakus
- Tokyo lodges formal protest over the sailings, reportedly the 32nd this year, after talks on Tuesday to set up a bilateral mechanism on maritime affairs
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China sent several coastguard ships to patrol disputed islands also claimed by Japan, days after agreeing to deepen bilateral maritime dialogue and manage territorial issues.
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The official social media account of China Coast Guard and Japanese media reports both said Chinese patrol vessels were cruising on Friday in waters off the Diaoyu Islands, a set of uninhabited islets controlled and claimed by Japan as the Senkakus.
There were four ships, Kyodo reported, saying it was the 32nd such deployment this year and that Chinese ships had been spotted near the disputed chain for 23 days in a row.
Japan has lodged a protest with China via diplomatic channels over the latest sailings.
The deployment came days after the two countries held an online department-level meeting on a bilateral mechanism for maritime affairs.
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A statement from Beijing following Tuesday’s meeting said the two sides had an “extensive and in-depth” exchange of views on maritime rifts and pledged to “earnestly implement” the agreement reached by their two heads of state last week to build “stable and constructive” ties.
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