Photo: Reuters

A boat with Taiwan activists on Thursday was heading for the islands on the East Sea in the context of rising tensions in the region. Kyodonews reported that seven people with a captain, four activists, one TV reporter were on the Chuanjiafu boat from Shenao, a fishing boat from north of Taiwan (China). The boat was on its way to Diaoyu (Senkaku) islands which takes 9 hours to get to. The group of activists said they were trying to bring a statue of sea goddess Matsu to the islands for people to worship.