‘Armed’ Chinese ship spotted near disputed East China Sea islands, says Japan

For the first time in modern history, a Chinese coastguard vessel, which appears to be armed, has carried out an incursion into disputed Japanese territorial waters.

Chinese vessels regularly sail around the disputed islands, known as the Senkaku in Japanese and the Diaoyu in Chinese.

The vessel was formerly a People’s Liberation Army Navy ship and is now operated by another department, according to the official, who asked not to be identified, citing government policy. The ship was accompanied by two other Chinese coast guard vessels that did not appear to be armed, the Japanese said. The ship is armed with an auto-cannon, although the main armament has been removed, the official said.

Beijing also claims the South China Sea nearly in its entirety and is involved in a series of disputes with several neighboring countries over the issue. The islands are part of Japan’s Okinawa Prefecture.

The vessel repeatedly sailed to the northeast and then turned toward the southwest outside the contiguous zone – the area within 12 nautical miles (22 km) of a nation’s territorial waters – from around 3:30 p.m. Wednesday to around 11 a.m. Saturday, according to the Defense Ministry. This is the 35th time this year that vessels of the Chinese government have entered Japan’s territorial waters, according to Kyodo.

High-level dialogue between China and Japan had been suspended for two years prior to a meeting in November 2014 between their leaders due to tension following the Japanese government’s purchase of three of the disputed islands in September 2012.

Distrust, however, remains high as China is wary of moves by Mr Abe to raise Japan’s military profile while Tokyo frets about Beijing’s increasing regional and global assertiveness. It accounts for just over 5 percent of the overall 96.7 trillion yen budget for next fiscal year, also approved December 24.