UPDATED 3:43 AM EST, February 18, 2013
Three Chinese ships were spotted today in waters around the Japanese-claimed Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea. According to the Kyodo News Agency, Japan made a formal protest to China for the incursion into its sovereign waters. Beijing claims the islands and calls them the Diaoyus. The naval incidents between China and Japan include confrontations between warships, with Japan claiming Chinese vessels locked their weapons-targeting radar onto a ship and a helicopter. Senior diplomats are expected to meet this week to discuss the issue.
