
Four Chinese coast guard vessels have left the contiguous zone just outside Japanese territorial waters waters around the Senkaku Islands in Ishigaki, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan Coast Guard officials said Sunday.
The Chinese government ships had operated in the contiguous zone for a record 111 straight days, according to the Japan Coast Guard’s eleventh regional headquarters in Naha, the capital of Okinawa, southern Japan,
Chinese ships entered the contiguous zone on April 14 and have taken turns sailing in the area.
The four ships may be trying to avoid Typhoon Hagupit, the fourth typhoon of this year, which is approaching the Sakishima island chain, the officials said.
China also claims the Japanese-administered islands, which it calls Diaoyu.
JIJI Press