China Coast Guard conducts third day of patrols around Diaoyu Islands

Three China Coast Guard vessels have conducted a third day of patrols of the territorial waters around the Diaoyu Islands on December 30, 2017, said a statement by China's State Oceanic Administration.

China Coast Guard vessels patrol territorial waters off the Diaoyu Islands. [File Photo: VCG]

According to reports by haiwainet.cn, while conducting their patrol on December 28 and 29 the Coast Guard received warnings from Japanese maritime security headquarters about approaching their so-called "territorial waters". The Japanese Coast Guard conducted surveillance of the Chinese vessels.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said at a press conference on December 29 that China took a clear-cut stand on the Coast Guard patrols, namely that the territory of the Diaoyu Islands has been Chinese territory since ancient times and that it is within China's rights to conduct such maritime patrols.