More tension in islands dispute

Published on 15/09/2012 00:00

Chinese and Japanese government ships exchanged warnings yesterday in waters near disputed islands in the East China Sea, while Tokyo called on Beijing to protect its citizens amid anti-Japan protests and reported assaults in China.

Tensions have flared after the Japanese government bought the islands from their private Japanese owners this week. The uninhabited islands, claimed by both countries plus Taiwan, have become a rallying point for nationalists on both sides.

China on Friday sent six surveillance ships into waters around the islands, called Senkaku by Japan and Diaoyu by China. Japanese coast guard ships then radioed warnings to the Chinese vessels.