Tokyo - Arab Today
The Japanese government is considering building more ships to patrol areas around the Japanese-controlled Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea amid China's growing maritime assertiveness, a government source said Monday.
The Japan Coast Guard is expected to acquire about three new ships, with the costs likely to be included in a draft supplementary budget for fiscal 2016, which the government will seek to pass during the upcoming Diet session, according to (Kyodo) news agency.
Tensions remain in the waters near the Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea, which China claims and calls Diaoyu.
On August 8, 15 Chinese government vessels sailed in Japanese territorial waters around the Senkakus and the adjacent so-called contiguous zone -- the largest Chinese fleet ever to sail in the areas at the same time.
Source: QNA