Japan warns against tension with China in disputed sea

TOKYO

Japanese officials have warned against escalated tensions in the East China Sea after a record number of Chinese government vessels were reportedly spotted around disputed islands Monday.

Over the weekend, Tokyo lodged a number of protests with Beijing after around 230 Chinese fishing boats and seven coast guard ships were spotted Saturday in a contiguous zone near the Senkaku Islands, followed by 13 vessels spotted Sunday -- some of which entered “Japanese territorial waters”.

Kyodo news agency cited Japan’s coast guard as saying a record 14 Chinese government vessels -- some reportedly equipped with weapons -- entered a contiguous zone Monday.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told a press conference that the coast guard and other related bodies “will work in close coordination to deal with [the situation]”.

"We will continue to firmly urge China not to escalate the situation," he was quoted as saying by Kyodo.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has stressed the need for calm and firm action in accordance with international and domestic law, calling on relevant authorities Saturday to work in close coordination with the United States and other related countries.

The Senkakus -- which China calls the Diaoyu Islands -- are a group of uninhabited islets currently controlled by Japan.

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