Japan says armed Chinese ship infiltrated its waters near disputed islands

A Chinese coast guard ship that appeared to be armed with cannons entered disputed waters Saturday off islands claimed by both Japan and China, the Japan Coast Guard reported.

It was the first time that an armed Chinese vessel has entered the disputed territory in the East China Sea, although unarmed Chinese ships often sail there, the Associated Press reported.

The ship stayed in the area for about an hour Saturday morning before leaving what Japan considers to be its territorial waters. The ship was accompanied by two other Chinese coast guard vessels that did not appear to be armed, AP reported.

Chinese authorities said their vessel was carrying standard coast guard equipment, was in Chinese waters and was doing nothing wrong.

The ship was spotted by the Japan Coast Guard on Saturday off the coast of the uninhabited islands, which the Japanese call Senkaku and the Chinese call Diaoyus.

Japanese officials said it was armed with four pieces of equipment — two in the front and two in the rear — that looked like cannons. The vessel had been seen operating farther from the islands earlier in the week.

The dispute over the islands has been a major point of contention between the two nations. Japan strengthened its official control of the small islands in 2012 by nationalizing some of them, angering Chinese leaders who claim the islets for China.

Last month, Japanese officials reported seeing a Chinese naval intelligence ship near the islands for the first time.