"The Chinese ships are armed," Hitoshi Nakama, an Okinawan councilor-turned-fisherman, told JAPAN Forward. "The patrol vessels have cannons mounted on the decks."
Japan emphasizes concerns over China s military in diplomacy report kyodonews.net - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from kyodonews.net Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
FOCUS: Japan expects deterrence to keep China in check over Senkakus
Japan has confirmed an interpretation of an existing law allowing its coast guard to directly fire a weapon against a foreign vessel it believes is aiming to land people on the Senkaku Islands, a change government officials and experts believe will boost Tokyo s deterrence against Beijing s perceived attempts to seize the Japanese-controlled islets in the East China Sea.
After Beijing implemented a law on Feb. 1 allowing its coast guard to use weapons against foreign ships that China sees as illegally entering its waters, ruling Liberal Democratic Party members have been seeking a counterstrategy to deter such activities.
China coast guard vessels repeatedly enter Japan waters near Senkakus kyodonews.net - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from kyodonews.net Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.