TOKYO: Two Chinese government ships sailed into the territorial waters of disputed islands controlled by Tokyo in the East China Sea on Tuesday, Japan’s coastguard said.

The maritime surveillance vessels entered the 12-nautical-mile zone around Kubashima, one of the islands in the chain called the Senkakus by Japan and the Diaoyus by China, shortly after 1 p.m.

Chinese vessels have been spotted in and around the territorial waters almost every day since mid-September, when the bitter territorial dispute was at its worst.

Analysts say Beijing is aiming to change the status quo by showing that its ships can come and go as they please in the waters.

The sovereignty of the islands has been a source of friction for decades.

The row erupted anew earlier this year after the nationalist governor of Tokyo said he wanted to buy them for the city, prompting the Japanese government to nationalize them.             

AFP