TOKYO, Aug. 16 (UPI) — In a sign that frustrations are mounting over the presence of Chinese vessels near the disputed Senkaku Islands, Japan’s coast guard released a video substantiating its claims.
The four-minute footage shows several Chinese boats approaching the Senkakus, The Japan Times reported.
The video was posted Monday.
In the footage, the coast guard moves in to warn Chinese coast guards and fishing boats, using its patrol vessels.
The patrol boats tell the Chinese sailors to leave Japanese waters.
In a later part of the video, the Aguni, a 1,500-ton patrol vessel, moves toward a Chinese coast guard ship and fishing boat.
The Aguni, which is equipped with a 20-mm cannon and a helipad, emits a warning signal to tell the other ships to leave the waters.
“Your ship has intruded into the territorial waters of our country,” the message reads. “Non-innocent passage in the Japanese waters is not allowed. Get out of this area immediately.”
The Japanese coast guard has also claimed 28 violations were committed by the Chinese coast guard ships, and another 72 by Chinese fishing boats.
Japan has said that between 200 and 300 fishing boats of Chinese origin along with 28 Chinese government ships were seen near Japan’s maritime zone around the disputed islands between Aug. 5 and Aug. 9.
Japan’s foreign ministry has previously stated a few of the ships appeared to be armed.
“Japan can never accept activities by [Chinese] official vessels near the Senkaku islands because it will unilaterally escalate the situation and raise tensions in the area,” the ministry had said.
The Senkaku Islands, which are under Japanese administration, are also claimed by China and Taiwan.
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