China coastguard drives off Japanese fishing boats in escalating island dispute

China said its coastguard expelled four Japanese fishing vessels from waters near the disputed Diaoyu Islands over the weekend, after Tokyo accused Beijing of escalating tensions in the East China Sea.

According to coastguard spokesman Liu Dejun, the Chinese ships took “necessary control measures” and issued warnings to drive the Japanese boats away between March 21 and 24 after they entered what China considers to be its territorial waters.

He did not elaborate on the specific actions taken against the Japanese vessels which were identified as the Rieimaru, Daihachikin Kai Maru, Daihachitaisei Maru and Senkoumaru No 2.

“Diaoyu Islands and their affiliated islets are China’s inherent territory,” Liu said in a brief statement late on Monday. “We urge the Japanese side to immediately cease all illegal activities in these waters.”

Liu added that the coastguard would continue to conduct rights protection and law enforcement patrols around the islands – known in Japan as the Senkakus – to safeguard China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights.

The Diaoyus, which comprise five uninhabited islets and three reefs, are located 169km (105 miles) east of Taiwan and 409km west of Okinawa. The surrounding waters are believed to contain valuable resources, including fish, oil and natural gas.

Earlier on Monday, Tokyo summoned the Chinese ambassador to protest the presence of China’s coastguard ships near the contested islets. Japanese officials had previously accused China of making “unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force”.