China enrages Japan by stationing armed ships in the waters surrounding disputed islands

On Friday, Japan protested to Beijing when four Chinese coastguard ships with guns entered waters that Tokyo claims as its own.

Four Chinese vessels carrying what looked like cannons entered Japanese territorial seas in the East China Sea around the disputed islands, which Beijing refers to as the Diaoyu and Tokyo calls the Senkaku, for the first time, according to the Japanese government.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said during a press briefing, “I am not in a position to state what the Chinese side’s intentions are, but the intrusion of vessels belonging to China’s coastguard into (our) territory is a breach of international law.”

According to China’s coastguard, its warships were armed as they patrolled the waterways.

It stated that the patrol was a “necessary step” for peace and stability as well as a “routine action” to counter Japan’s recent “negative moves” and to protect sovereignty, security, and maritime rights.

China’s coast guard said, “We advise the Japanese side to be prudent in its words and actions, to reflect on itself and to stop provocations,” and it will up its “law enforcement efforts.”

According to Hayashi, Tokyo made a “strong protest” through diplomatic channels, demanding an immediate withdrawal from the region. According to him, the four warships were in the region for over an hour before departing soon after lunchtime.

“We find this incursion into our territorial seas to be deeply unfortunate and intolerable. While engaging calmly and resolutely with China, we will continue to do everything in our power to be attentive and monitor the areas surrounding the Senkaku Islands with a sense of urgency,” Hayashi stated.

Around the uninhabited islands under Japanese administration, the two nations have clashed on several occasions.

In contested South China Sea locations, China’s naval encounters with the Philippine military have also been become more frequent.