OREANDA-NEWS  Over the past few days, China has warned two Japanese Coast Guard research vessels to stop working in the East China Sea, in response to which Japan has sent a protest to China. This was stated by the chief secretary of the Japanese Cabinet of Ministers, Minoru Kihara, according to Bloomberg.

"We have sent a protest to the Chinese side through diplomatic channels, stating that this marine research is being conducted in the exclusive economic zone of Japan and that we cannot agree with China's demands to stop it," Kihara said.

According to him, the research vessels Takue and Cfu received radio warnings from Chinese government ships about the need to stop work. He clarified that the ship "Cfu" was located about 80 kilometers northwest of Watsuri Island, which is part of the uninhabited Senkaku Archipelago, which is under the control of Tokyo. China also claims these islands and calls them Diaoyu.

"In response, the Japanese Coast Guard research vessels informed the Chinese vessels that their marine research activities are legal and conducted in accordance with international law," Kihara said, adding that the vessels are still operating in the area.

According to the newspaper, these unusual measures indicate an increase in tension over territorial disputes in the region and the deterioration of diplomatic relations between Beijing and Tokyo.

Earlier, the official representative of the Ministry of Defense of the People's Republic of China, Zhang Xiaogang, said that the militarization of Japan would plunge the people into the abyss of disasters and chaos. This is how he commented on the completion of Japan's deployment of long-range missile systems.