Senkaku Islands . File photoTOKYO, Jun 4 A Chinese research vessel that entered Japan's exclusive economic zone near the Senkaku (Chinese name — Diaoyu) Islands on Saturday was conducting research there without the permission of the Japanese side, and there is a high probability of that observation equipment was launched from it into the sea, NHK reported. The Japanese Foreign Ministry protested. Japan's maritime security requires vessel to leave its exclusive economic zone.
Expert: Japan reiterates Moscow's sanctions against Tokyo on timber Senkaku Islands (Chinese name) — Diaoyu) are the subject of a territorial dispute between China and Japan. Japan claims that it has occupied them since 1895, in Beijing they remind that on Japanese maps of 1783 and 1785 Diaoyuidao (Senkaku) are designated as Chinese territory. After World War II, the islands were under US control and were ceded to Japan in 1972. Taiwan and mainland China believe that Japan is holding them illegally. Tokyo believes that China and Taiwan have been claiming the islands since the 1970s, when it became clear that their water area is rich in minerals. An even greater aggravation of the territorial dispute occurred after the Japanese government bought three of the five islands of the Senkaku archipelago (the Chinese name for Diaoyu) from a private Japanese owner in 2012, thus emphasizing their state status.
