Chinese Coast Guard ships that entered Japanese territorial waters near the Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea over the weekend have remained there for a record length of time, the Japan Coast Guard said Tuesday.

The two ships entered the waters near the islands, which are claimed by China, at around 10:45 a.m. Sunday, and attempted to approach a Japanese fishing boat, the coast guard said.

They have remained in the waters since then, although Japanese coast guard vessels in the area have repeatedly urged them to leave while protecting the fishing vessel.