Japan reports four Chinese warships near Diaoyutai

The Joint Staff Council under the Japanese defense ministry reported on Monday that four warships of China's PLA Navy were detected by a Japan Maritime Self Defense Force P-3C patrol plane near the waters of the disputed Diaoyutai (Senkaku or Diaoyu) islands, according to China's state-run Global Times.

The patrol aircraft reported that one Type 052C guided-missile destroyer, two Type 054A frigates and one supply ship were located 49 kilometers southeast of the Japanese island of Yonaguni at 7am in the morning. Three hours later, the four vessels were again detected 44 km north of the island.

As Yonaguni is only 150 km away from the Diaoyutai, claimed by Japan, China and Taiwan, Tokyo maintained close surveillance of the movements of the Chinese vessels.

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