China ships sail through disputed waters

TOKYO: Three Chinese ships sailed through disputed waters off Tokyo-controlled islands in the East China Sea on Sunday, the Japanese coastguard said, the first time since Beijing announced an Air Defense Identification Zone over the sea.

The vessels entered the 12-nautical-mile territorial waters at about 9 a.m. off one of the Senkaku islands, which China also claims and calls the Diaoyus, the Japan Coast Guard said. They left the area shortly after noon.