Tokyo (CNN)This week, two China Coast Guards occupy Japan's territorial waters near the chain of conflicting islands. I sailed for more than 64 hours. , Japanese officials said Friday-the longest invasion of this kind in 10 years.
The Japanese Coast Guard sent its own patrol boats to the area, demanding that Chinese ships leave Japan's territorial waters soon, it said.
Such intrusions are not uncommon in conflict areas. Both Tokyo and Beijing claim uninhabited islands as their own, but Japan has managed them since 1972. Taiwan, which Beijing considers to be a state of China, also claims ownership of the island.
Chinese authorities have repeatedly argued that patroling the waters around the island is a unique right of China. China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Pentagon did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Friday's Japan Coast Guard statement.
Recent invasions marked the longest period Chinese government vessels have spent in the waters since 2012, after Tokyo bought some of the islands from Japanese private owners, Japan said. The Coast Guard said. Prior to
, the longest intrusion was in October 2020, with Chinese ships staying for more than 57 hours.
The latest case occurs in increasing friction between two neighbors, especially when China is looking carefully at Japan's relationship with the United States.
Last month, Tokyo hosted a summit of an increasingly active quad security group consisting of Japan, the United States, Australia and India. Beijing sees it as part of America's efforts to contain the group.
Hours after the summit, the Chinese and Russian air forces conducted a joint strategic aerial patrol in the Sea of Japan, the East China Sea, and the Western Pacific. Annual military cooperation plan.
The ministry said the group has been operating in waters near Japan since June 12.
