A Chinese marine surveillance ship cruises in waters about 28 km (17 miles) northwest of one of the disputed islands called Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China, in the East China Sea, in this handout photo released by Japan Coast Guard's 11th Regional Co.
Chinese Ships Enter Disputed Senkaku Waters -- The Telegraph
Chinese ships entered waters near a group of disputed islands for the first time in three weeks on Thursday, prompting a strong protest from Japan, which says China's air force has also sharply increased its operations in the area.
Japan's Coast Guard said the four Chinese surveillance ships were spotted within a 12-nautical mile zone that Tokyo considers its territorial waters near one of the disputed islands in the East China Sea early Thursday morning.
The ships refused to leave, saying the area was Chinese territory, according to Atsushi Takahashi, a spokesman for the Coast Guard's headquarters in Okinawa, which has jurisdiction over the islands. He said it was the first time Chinese ships had entered the territorial waters since Oct. 3.
Japan's Foreign Ministry lodged a strong protest with China's ambassador in Tokyo.
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More News On Chinese Naval Ships Entering Disputed Territories
Japan Spots Chinese Ships Near Contested Islands -- Voice of America
Japan sees new Chinese actions near disputed isles -- Bloomberg Businessweek/AP
Japan Protests After Chinese Vessels Enter Disputed Waters -- Bloomberg Businessweek
Japan says Chinese ships in disputed waters -- AFP
China fleet continue patrolling Diaoyu Islands waters -- Xinhuanet
China confirms surveillance ships patrolling near Diaoyu Islands -- Xinhuanet
US must clearly back Japan in islands dispute with China -- Grant Newsham, Christian Science Monitor
My Comment: At least both sides are talking.