Chinese Spy Ship Enters Japanese Peninsula
A Chinese naval intelligence ship was spotted off Japan's Boso Peninsula in Chiba Prefecture, Jiji Press reported quoting the Defense Ministry.
The vessel did not enter the country's territorial waters, Japan's Defence Ministry said, but added it is rare for a Chinese naval vessel to sail back and forth in that area near Tokyo.
Maritime Self-Defense Force P-3C patrol aircraft spotted a Dongdiao-class intelligence-gathering ship sailing northeast in waters outside the contiguous zone surrounding Japanese waters southeast of the peninsula around 3:30 p.m. Wednesday.
The ministry has confirmed a Chinese military ship sailed back and forth in waters near the Boso Peninsula for the first time, officials said.
Japan said it had conveyed to China its concern over the incident, and the ministry has begun investigating why the Chinese ship was sailing in the area, reported Kyodo news agency.