Flexing muscles ahead of next week's once in a decade leadership change, China today said it has "expelled" Japanese Coast Guard vessels from the waters of disputed islands and asserted that "situation has changed" and Japan can not retain control over the area any longer.
Asked about reports of Chinese Maritime Surveillance Vessels, patrolling the waters of the uninhabited islands called Diaoyu by China and Senkakus by Japan, expelling Japanese vessels, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman, Hong Lei said today Beijing's stand is well justified.
"China's maritime surveillance ships conducted patrol and law enforcement operations in the territorial waters of the Diaoyu Islands. This is a normal act of duty and is completely justified", Hong told a media briefing here today.
Earlier state-run Xinhua news agency reported that the China's marine surveillance fleet has "expelled a number of Japanese vessels illegally sailing in waters around the Diaoyu Islands on Tuesday morning".
Asked about reports of Chinese Maritime Surveillance Vessels, patrolling the waters of the uninhabited islands called Diaoyu by China and Senkakus by Japan, expelling Japanese vessels, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman, Hong Lei said today Beijing's stand is well justified.
"China's maritime surveillance ships conducted patrol and law enforcement operations in the territorial waters of the Diaoyu Islands. This is a normal act of duty and is completely justified", Hong told a media briefing here today.
Earlier state-run Xinhua news agency reported that the China's marine surveillance fleet has "expelled a number of Japanese vessels illegally sailing in waters around the Diaoyu Islands on Tuesday morning".