Chinese and Japanese coastguard ships confront each other near disputed islands

Chinese and Japanese coastguard vessels have been involved in a stand-off near the disputed Diaoyu Islands in the East China Sea.

The two sides gave conflicting accounts of Tuesday’s incident, with the Chinese coastguard saying it had driven a Japanese fishing boat away from the islands, which are known as the Senkaku Islands in Japan.

Liu Dejun, a spokesman for the coastguard, said the Chinese vessels took “necessary control measures” and issued warnings to the boat.

“The Diaoyu Islands and their affiliated islets are inherent Chinese territory. We urge Japan to immediately cease all infringements and provocative activities in these waters,” Liu said.

He added that the coastguard would continue to patrol around these islands to safeguard China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights.

However, the Japanese coastguard said it had intercepted and driven away two Chinese coastguard vessels that approached a fishing boat.