Tokyo: Three Chinese government ships sailed into waters around disputed islands controlled by Tokyo today, the Japanese coastguard said.
The maritime surveillance vessels entered the 12-nautical-mile zone off Uotsurijima, one of the Senkaku islands, which China calls the Diaoyus, in the East China Sea shortly after 9:30 am (0600 IST), the coastguard added.
Ships from the two countries have been involved in a stand-off as Beijing and Tokyo jostle over ownership of the strategically important and resource-rich islands.