Chinese ships enter Japan waters 1st time under new coast guard law

The vessels pointed their bows toward Japanese fishing boats

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Uotsuri island (top), Minamikojima (bottom) and Kitakojima, known as Senkaku in Japan. Photo taken by Kyodo in September 2012.  © Reuters

NAHA, Japan (Kyodo) -- Chinese coast guard vessels on Saturday entered Japan's territorial waters near the China-claimed Senkaku Islands for the first time since its new coast guard law took effect this month, Japanese officials said.

The law, which became effective Monday, explicitly allows the Chinese coast guard to use weapons against foreign ships that Beijing sees as illegally entering its waters.

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