Japan has summoned China’s ambassador to the country this week, after Chinese vessels entered what Japan claims to be their territorial waters for over 13 hours.
The Japanese Foreign Ministry said that strong protests were registered after four Chinese surveillance ships entered the area surrounding the disputed islands, known as Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China.
Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, said the Chinese excursion was “an extremely unusual incident and very regrettable”.
China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei responded by saying that the islands were "an inherent part of Chinese territory," and added,
"We do not accept Japan's protests and representations... Despite China's objections, Japan sent vessels and planes to the waters and airspace of the Diaoyu Islands for many times. China made representations many times, urging Japan to stop illegal acts that violated China's sovereignty".
The latest escalation in tensions comes as Japan announced that they would seek to boost military spending, with a military spokesman stating that the money was needed "to prepare for the changing security environment surrounding Japan".
See a report from the Guardian here on how drone technology may rapidly play a bigger role in the escalating dispute.
We need your support
Sri Lanka is one of the most dangerous places in the world to be a journalist. Tamil journalists are particularly at threat, with at least 41 media workers known to have been killed by the Sri Lankan state or its paramilitaries during and after the armed conflict.
Despite the risks, our team on the ground remain committed to providing detailed and accurate reporting of developments in the Tamil homeland, across the island and around the world, as well as providing expert analysis and insight from the Tamil point of view
We need your support in keeping our journalism going. Support our work today.
For more ways to donate visit https://donate.tamilguardian.com.
