14 September 2012 Last updated at 04:10 ET <\/p>\n
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The BBC's Rupert Wingfield-Hayes explains the background to the tension <\/p>\n
Six Chinese surveillance ships briefly entered waters around islands claimed by both Japan and China, amid a bitter territorial dispute. <\/p>\n
China said the ships were carrying out \"law enforcement\" to show jurisdiction over the islands, called Diaoyu in China and Senkaku in Japan. <\/p>\n
Three vessels left after a short time and the other three have now also left, the Japanese coast guard said. <\/p>\n
The move came after Japan sealed a deal to buy three of the islands. <\/p>\n
Japan controls the uninhabited but resource-rich East China Sea islands, which are also claimed by Taiwan. <\/p>\n
Three were in the hands of a private Japanese owner but the Japanese government bought them earlier this week. <\/p>\n
The Japanese Coast Guard said the first two Chinese boats entered Japan's territorial waters at 06:18 local time (21:18 GMT Thursday), followed by another fleet of four other ships just after 07:00. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Originally posted here:<\/p>\n
China ships sail amid islands row<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" 14 September 2012 Last updated at 04:10 ET Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play. Continue reading