Chinese surveillance ships were spotted near the Senkaku Islands on Sunday, the coast guard reported, showing that China isn't backing down from Japan's allegations of radar-lock provocations in the East China Sea.
Four Chinese surveillance vessels entered the contiguous zone adjacent to Japan's territorial waters around the Senkakus from around 7 a.m., said the 11th Regional Coast Guard Headquarters in Naha, Okinawa Prefecture.
Their return to the Senkakus came just after Onodera said Chinese movements around the islet chain had "calmed" in the wake of Tuesday's announcement.