Seven PLA naval vessels entered waters around the disputed Diaoyutai (Diaoyu or Senkaku) islands in the East China Sea on Oct. 16 for the first time since three of the islands were nationalized by the Japanese government on Sept. 11.
The ships included two destroyers, two frigates, two frigates, two submarine rescue ships and a refueling tanker. They were detected by a Japanese surviliance aircraft between the Okinawa islands of Yonaguni and Iriomoto on Tuesday morning. The ships are from the PLA's North and East Sea fleets.
Japan's defense minister, Satoshi Morimoto, said the Japan Maritime Defense Force is paying close attention to the movements of the Chinese fleet in its territorial waters.
Read the full story at Want China Times