3 Chinese ships in disputed island waters
2013-01-21 11:13
Tokyo - Three Chinese government ships were in waters around islands at the
centre of a dispute with Tokyo on Monday, the day after China issued a rebuke
to the US over comments seen as supporting Japan.
Japan's coastguard said the maritime surveillance boats were in waters
around a chain of Tokyo-controlled islands known as the Senkakus in Japan,
which Beijing calls the Diaoyus.
China has repeatedly sent ships to the area since Japan nationalised some of
the chain in September, a move that triggered a diplomatic dispute and huge
anti-Japan demonstrations across China.
Beijing has also sent air patrols to the archipelago in the East China Sea,
and in recent weeks both Beijing and Tokyo have scrambled fighter jets, though
there have been no clashes.
On Sunday, Beijing said it was "strong dissatisfied" after US
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton issued a veiled warning to China not to
challenge Tokyo's control over the chain, which is believed to sit atop vast
mineral reserves.
On Friday, Clinton said the US opposed "any unilateral actions that
would seek to undermine Japanese administration" of the islands.
The top US diplomat added "we do not want to see any action taken by
anyone that could raise tensions or result in miscalculation that would
undermine the peace, security and economic growth in this region".
