China Coast Guard expels illegal Japanese vessel off Diaoyu Islands

A Japanese fishing vessel that illegally entered China's territorial waters around the Diaoyu Islands was driven away by the China Coast Guard on Tuesday morning.

In a statement, Liu Dejun, spokesman for the China Coast Guard, said the Japanese fishing boat had intruded into the territorial waters of the Diaoyu Islands, and CCG vessels took necessary control measures and warned the boat off in accordance with the law.

He stressed that the Diaoyu Islands and its affiliated islands are China's inherent territory, urging the Japanese side to immediately stop all acts of infringement and provocation in the area.

The China Coast Guard will continue to carry out rights-defending law enforcement operations in the waters off the Diaoyu Islands and firmly safeguard China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, the statement added.