Chinese ships appeared near the disputed Japanese Islands
Three Chinese coast guard ship had entered waters near a chain of Islands, which are claimed by both China and Japan in the East China sea on Monday. Japan controls the chain of Islands and calls them Senkaku, while China calls them Diaoyu.
The ships came a few days after the U.S. Secretary of defense James Mattis reaffirmed America's commitment to the protection of Japan and its disputed Islands. According to Japanese broadcaster NHK, the protests were submitted to the Embassy of China in Tokyo and Beijing through the Embassy of Japan. Tension flashed several times in recent years over disputed Islands, including face-offs between Japanese and Chinese air and naval forces, which was called a threat from both sides.
The state oceanic administration of China, which oversees the coast guard of the country, issued a statement late on Monday evening, indicating that the 3 ships "cruised within the Diaoyu Islands territorial sea of China." The Ministry of defense of China, which is separated from the administration of Oceania, issued a statement on its website confirming the movement of ships. The Japanese coast guard said the Chinese vessels spent two hours in Japanese territorial waters. It was 4 times when Chinese ships entered Japanese waters this year. There were 36 such incidents in 2016, the statement said.
Experts said that China sent to Tokyo and Washington subtle message after a visit Mattis. Denny Roy, an expert on Asian security in Honolulu, said that the traffic of ships in the disputed waters could lead to a shootout. "The danger is particularly great given the soldiers on both sides who seek to demonstrate their determination to protect what they consider to be national territory," said Roy. And military confrontation between China and Japan can bring American forces into the game. During a press conference on Saturday in Tokyo, Mattis said that the U.S. would defend the Islands of Japan.
The U.S. position was strengthened on Tuesday in a telephone conversation between Minister of foreign Affairs of Japan, Fumio Kishida and new U.S. Secretary Rex Tillerson, according to the statement of the MFA of Japan. "The Diaoyu and its affiliated Islands have been Chinese territory since ancient times. These are historical facts that cannot be changed. The so-called security Treaty between the United States and Japan is a product of the cold war, and it should not harm the territorial sovereignty, " said foreign Ministry spokesman of China, Lu Kang in his statement.
"We urge the us side to take responsibility and stop doing the wrong comments on the issue of the sovereignty of the Diaoyu Islands," said Lou.
Russian News
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