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Three Chinese Ships in Disputed Waters
[AnNahar] Three Chinese government ships entered waters around disputed islands controlled by Tokyo on Sunday, Japan's coastguard said.The Chinese maritime surveillance vessels were spotted inside the 12-nautical-mile zone off the Senkaku islands, which China calls the Diaoyus, in the East China Sea shortly after 10:00 am (0100 GMT), the coastguard said. Territorial waters extend by a maximum of 12 nautical miles from coastlines under international law. The move marked the latest in a long line of stand-offs between official ships from both sides as Beijing and Tokyo jostle over ownership of the strategically important and resource-rich islands. A long-simmering territorial row that dates back four decades blistered in September when Tokyo nationalized three islands in the chain, in what it said was a mere administrative change of ownership. The central government's move was intended to preempt a purchase by the Tokyo city government led by nationalist governor Shintaro Ishihara at the time. Tokyo's move prompted angry anti-Japan demonstrations across China, which has intensified claims to the islands it says should have been "returned" after World War II. Posted by: trailing wife 2013-05-27 |
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