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Japan Protests After Chinese Ships Linger in Disputed Waters Japan Protests After Chinese Ships Linger in Disputed Waters
(about 2 hours later)
TOKYO — The Japanese Foreign Ministry lodged a protest with China’s top diplomat in Japan on Thursday after three Chinese paramilitary ships stayed in waters around disputed islands for the longest period of time since a row over the area heated up last year, the ministry said. TOKYO — The Japanese Foreign Ministry lodged a protest with China’s top diplomat in Japan on Thursday after three Chinese paramilitary ships stayed in waters around disputed islands for the longest period of time since a fight over the area heated up last year, the ministry said.
The three vessels, identified as belonging to China’s newly created Coast Guard, entered the waters off the islands in the East China Sea on Wednesday and remained for more than 28 hours, Japan’s Coast Guard said. They were later joined by a fourth Chinese ship before all of the vessels left around noon on Thursday.The three vessels, identified as belonging to China’s newly created Coast Guard, entered the waters off the islands in the East China Sea on Wednesday and remained for more than 28 hours, Japan’s Coast Guard said. They were later joined by a fourth Chinese ship before all of the vessels left around noon on Thursday.
While such incursions into Japanese-administered waters have recently been taking place on almost a daily basis, Chinese ships usually stay only a few hours before leaving. During that time, they are tailed by Japanese Coast Guard ships in a high-seas game of cat and mouse.While such incursions into Japanese-administered waters have recently been taking place on almost a daily basis, Chinese ships usually stay only a few hours before leaving. During that time, they are tailed by Japanese Coast Guard ships in a high-seas game of cat and mouse.
The length of the most recent incursion brought expressions of concern in Tokyo, where the Foreign Ministry said Junichi Ihara, head of the Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau, summoned the acting Chinese ambassador to Japan, Han Zhiqiang, to lodge a formal protest.The length of the most recent incursion brought expressions of concern in Tokyo, where the Foreign Ministry said Junichi Ihara, head of the Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau, summoned the acting Chinese ambassador to Japan, Han Zhiqiang, to lodge a formal protest.
“We have expressed our anger to the Chinese side,” Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida said. “Attempts to change the status quo with implied threats of force are not permitted by the international community.”“We have expressed our anger to the Chinese side,” Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida said. “Attempts to change the status quo with implied threats of force are not permitted by the international community.”
The group of uninhabited islands, known as the Senkaku in Japan and the Diaoyu in Chinese, are administered by Japan but also claimed by China and Taiwan. Since September, Chinese ships have made regular visits into the waters as part of what analysts call a long-term strategy of wearing down Japan’s will to keep enforcing its claims. The group of uninhabited islands, known as the Senkaku in Japan and the Diaoyu in China, are administered by Japan but also claimed by China and Taiwan. Since September, Chinese ships have made regular visits into the waters as part of what analysts call a long-term strategy of wearing down Japan’s will to keep enforcing its claims.
The decades-old dispute flared up last year after the Japanese government bought three of the five islands from their private owner. The move prompted outrage from Beijing, which saw it as an attempt by Japan to solidify control over the islands. The Japanese government said it was acting to pre-empt the purchase of the islands by the nationalist former mayor of Tokyo, who wanted to build a lighthouse and take other more provocative steps to assert Japanese control. The dispute, which has lasted decades, flared up last year after the Japanese government bought three of the five islands from their private owner. The move prompted outrage from Beijing, which saw it as an effort by Japan to solidify control over the islands. The Japanese government said it was acting to pre-empt the purchase of the islands by the nationalist former mayor of Tokyo, who wanted to build a lighthouse and take other more provocative steps to assert Japanese control.

Makiko Inoue contributed reporting.

Makiko Inoue contributed reporting.

This article has been revised to reflect the following correction:This article has been revised to reflect the following correction:
Correction: August 8, 2013Correction: August 8, 2013

An earlier version of this article misidentified Han Zhiqiang, a Chinese diplomat. He is the acting ambassador to Japan, not the ambassador.

An earlier version of this article misidentified Han Zhiqiang, a Chinese diplomat. He is the acting ambassador to Japan, not the ambassador.