China says 'expelled' Japanese ship from waters near disputed islands

China expels Japanese ship from disputed waters amid rising tensions over territorial claims in East Asia.

China's coast guard said Thursday (October 17, 2024) it had "expelled" a Japanese ship that ventured into waters around disputed islands, as Beijing increasingly presses its regional territorial claims.

The uninhabited islands — known as the Diaoyu in China and Senkaku in Japan — are claimed by Beijing but administered by Tokyo and are a frequent hotspot in bilateral tensions.

Liu Dejun, a spokesperson for Beijing's Coast Guard, said a Japanese fishing vessel had "illegally entered territorial waters" around the islands from Tuesday to Wednesday.

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The Coast Guard "took necessary control measures in accordance with the law, warned (the ship) and expelled it", Mr. Liu said in an online statement.

"The Diaoyu and affiliated islands are China's inherent territory, and we urge the Japanese side to immediately stop all illegal activities in these waters," he said.

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