Chinese ships enter Japan's northeastern waters

NHK -- Jul 18

Japan Coast Guard officials say 2 Chinese patrol ships have entered Japanese territorial waters off the country's northeast.

They say Japanese crew spotted the ships sailing into waters off Aomori Prefecture shortly after 8 AM on Monday.

The officials say this is the first confirmed entry by Chinese patrol ships into waters off the country's northeastern region of Tohoku.

The vessels left the area about 90 minutes later, after being warned by the Coast Guard.

But the officials say the ships reentered Japanese waters about 2 hours later, and stayed for about another 3-and-a-half hours.

Jul 18 (ANNnewsCH) - 17日、中国の公船2隻が青森県沖の領海に一時、侵入しました。 第2管区海上保安部によりますと、午前8時すぎ、海上保安部の巡視船が青森県の日本海に面する舮作崎の沖合の領海に入った中国海警局の公船2隻を確認しました。