TOKYO: Japan said Tuesday it expelled two Chinese coast guard ships from waters near disputed islands also claimed by Beijing. The Chinese ships were approaching a Japanese fishing vessel operating in the area, Japan’s coast guard said. The two countries have a long-running territorial dispute over the Senkaku Islands — known as the Diaoyu in China — which lie between Taiwan and Japan’s Okinawa. They have figured for decades in bilateral tensions, which have worsened since Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi made comments about Taiwan in November that angered Beijing.

Japan expelled two Chinese coast guard ships from waters near disputed islands, escalating long-running tensions. Learn more about the Japan-China dispute.

China expelled a Japanese ship near the disputed Senkaku Islands. Military clash between China and Japan before 2027 at 6.5% YES.