The Diaoyu Island and the nearby islands are seen in this undated file photo. (PHOTO / XINHUA)
China Coast Guard (CCG) on Saturday warned off Japanese fishing boats and patrol vessels that had illegally entered China's territorial waters around the Diaoyu Islands.
In a statement, CCG spokesman Gan Yu said the CCG dispatched ships to the area and took necessary measures to control the situation and warn the Japanese vessels to leave.
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Gan said that the Diaoyu Islands are China's inherent territory and that the CCG is carrying out its duties in accordance with the law.
He called on Japan to immediately stop all illegal activities in the area and to ensure that similar incidents do not happen again.