Japan repeatedly spots Chinese coast guard and warships near disputed waters

By MARI YAMAGUCHI
Associated Press

TOKYO (AP) — Japanese officials say Chinese coast guard vessels have been passing by Japanese-claimed waters for weeks in the East China Sea and China’s warships have been edging near Japan’s southwestern islands in recent days. The Japanese Coast Guard says a fleet of four Chinese coast guard vessels passed just outside of territorial waters of Japan-controlled islands, which Beijing also claims, for the 49th day in a row on Thursday. It warned China’s vessels against further approaching the islands, called the Senkaku in Japanese, while Beijing calls them the Diaoyu.