China's State Oceanic Administration confirmed Friday that two patrol ships 2307 and 2308 from China Coast Guard were patrolling along their own territorial waters off Diaoyu Islands in the East China Sea.
The confirmation came after Japanese TV NHK reported earlier in the day that two Chinese patrol ships have entered the12 nautical miles territorial limits off the islands, which Japanese call Senkaku Islands.
Japanese Coast Guard officials had warned the Chinese ships to stay away from the waters while the Chinese coast guards responded by asking them to stay away from the disputed waters.
According to NHK, Japan Coast Guard officials said this was the 20th times this year that Chinese ships have entered the disputed waters.
The Chinese government has always maintained that the Diaoyu Island and affiliated islets are "an inherent part of China's territory ... and China possesses undisputable sovereign rights over the islands.
