(VOVworld) – Japan’s Coast Guard reported on Wednesday that 3 Chinese Coast Guard ships had approached the disputed islands, which are called Senkaku by Japan and Diaoyu by China, in the East China Sea. One of ships appeared to be armed.

A group of disputed islands, known as Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China, is seen in the East China Sea. (Photo: Reuters/Kyodo)

Senkaku/Diaoyu is a group of islands about 400 km west of Japan’s Okinawa prefecture and under Japan’s control. China has also claimed sovereignty and regularly sent ships and aircraft to the waters. Sovereignty disputes have caused tensions in relations between the two neighbors.