Japan's Abe in Diaoyu Islands order
Source: Agencies |
January 9, 2013, Wednesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe yesterday ordered his defense minister to strengthen surveillance around the Diaoyu Islands, the heart of a territorial feud with China, the Kyodo news agency reported.
Deputy Foreign Minister Akitaka Saiki summoned Chinese Ambassador Cheng Yonghua to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs after four Chinese government ships entered waters off the islands for about 13 hours, ministry official Masaru Sato said.
"I want you to respond firmly," Kyodo quoted Abe as telling Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera.
The ships entered the area around noon on Monday and left in the early hours yesterday. China's State Oceanic Administration confirmed that four Chinese marine surveillance ships were patrolling waters near the islands.
China maintains such ships are in Chinese waters and a Chinese official accused Japan of intrusion.
"Japan has continued to ignore our warnings that their vessels and aircraft have infringed our sovereignty," Sun Shuxian, Party chief of China's marine surveillance corps, said in an interview posted on the Oceanic Administration's website.
"This behavior may result in the further escalation of the situation at sea and has prompted China to pay great attention and vigilance," Sun said.
During a routine briefing in Beijing yesterday, Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei reiterated China's stance that the islands are "an inherent part of Chinese territory," and said the Chinese vessels were carrying out normal duties.
"We do not accept Japan's protests and representations," Hong said.
"Despite China's objections, Japan sent vessels and planes to the waters and airspace of the Diaoyu Islands many times. China made representations many times, urging Japan to stop illegal acts that violated China's sovereignty."
On December 13, a Chinese government plane flew into airspace above the islands, prompting Tokyo to launch a formal protest. China said the plane was conducting a normal operation.
Sino-Japanese ties chilled after the Japanese government illegally bought the islands from a so-called private Japanese owner last September.
Japan's Defense Ministry has scrambled F-15 fighter jets several times in recent weeks to intercept Chinese marine surveillance planes approaching the islands.
Abe, whose conservative Liberal Democratic Party returned to power in a landslide victory last month, has vowed a tough stance in the territorial feud.
Deputy Foreign Minister Akitaka Saiki summoned Chinese Ambassador Cheng Yonghua to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs after four Chinese government ships entered waters off the islands for about 13 hours, ministry official Masaru Sato said.
"I want you to respond firmly," Kyodo quoted Abe as telling Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera.
The ships entered the area around noon on Monday and left in the early hours yesterday. China's State Oceanic Administration confirmed that four Chinese marine surveillance ships were patrolling waters near the islands.
China maintains such ships are in Chinese waters and a Chinese official accused Japan of intrusion.
"Japan has continued to ignore our warnings that their vessels and aircraft have infringed our sovereignty," Sun Shuxian, Party chief of China's marine surveillance corps, said in an interview posted on the Oceanic Administration's website.
"This behavior may result in the further escalation of the situation at sea and has prompted China to pay great attention and vigilance," Sun said.
During a routine briefing in Beijing yesterday, Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei reiterated China's stance that the islands are "an inherent part of Chinese territory," and said the Chinese vessels were carrying out normal duties.
"We do not accept Japan's protests and representations," Hong said.
"Despite China's objections, Japan sent vessels and planes to the waters and airspace of the Diaoyu Islands many times. China made representations many times, urging Japan to stop illegal acts that violated China's sovereignty."
On December 13, a Chinese government plane flew into airspace above the islands, prompting Tokyo to launch a formal protest. China said the plane was conducting a normal operation.
Sino-Japanese ties chilled after the Japanese government illegally bought the islands from a so-called private Japanese owner last September.
Japan's Defense Ministry has scrambled F-15 fighter jets several times in recent weeks to intercept Chinese marine surveillance planes approaching the islands.
Abe, whose conservative Liberal Democratic Party returned to power in a landslide victory last month, has vowed a tough stance in the territorial feud.
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