Chinese ships in disputed-islands waters: Japan

It is the latest episode in a fraught few months that has seen repeated stand-offs between official ships from both sides as they have jostled over ownership of strategically-important and resource-rich islands.

The territorial row blistered in September when Tokyo nationalised three islands in the chain,in what it said was a mere administrative change of ownership.

Tokyo8217;s move prompted angry anti-Japan demonstrations across China,which has intensified claims to the islands it says should have been 8220;returned8221; in the post- orld War II settlement Tokyo made.

In one of the more intense incidents,Chinese warships locked their weapons-targeting radar on a Japanese destroyer,and opposing fighter planes have shadowed each other on numerous occasions amid warnings a slip-up could lead to a military showdown.

In late April,eight Chinese government vessels sailed into the disputed waters and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe vowed he would 8220;expel by force8221; any Chinese landing on the islands.