The China Coast Guard announced that it has taken measures to expel a Japanese fishing boat from the Senkaku Islands, a region subject to territorial disputes, which China refers to as the Diaoyu Islands.

Liu Dejun, a spokesperson for the China Coast Guard, stated on its official WeChat account on July 7 that "a Japanese fishing boat illegally entered the territorial waters of China's Chiweiyu," adding that "the China Coast Guard took necessary control measures in accordance with the law, issued warnings, and expelled it."

Chiweiyu is one of the islands that make up the Senkaku Islands, which are currently under the effective control of Japan; its Japanese name is Taisho Island.

The spokesperson further claimed, "The Diaoyu Islands and their affiliated islands are China's inherent territory," and urged that "Japan must immediately cease all activities that infringe upon sovereignty and provocations in these waters."

He added, "The China Coast Guard will continue to carry out law enforcement activities to protect national territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests within the territorial waters of the Diaoyu Islands and their affiliated islands."

(Photo: Yonhap News)