At a July 7 briefing, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said China firmly opposes Japanese interference with the lawful activities of a Chinese marine research vessel and has lodged a stern protest with Tokyo. Mao reiterated that the Diaoyu Islands and affiliated islets are China’s inherent territory and that Chinese research operations in surrounding waters fall within China’s sovereign rights. Japan’s coast guard said on July 3 that around 11:00 a.m. a Chinese survey ship entered the EEZ n

At a July 7 briefing, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said China firmly opposes Japanese interference with the lawful activities of a Chinese marine research vessel and has lodged a stern protest with Tokyo. Mao reiterated that the Diaoyu Islands and affiliated islets are China’s inherent territory and that Chinese research operations in surrounding waters fall within China’s sovereign rights. Japan’s coast guard said on July 3 that around 11:00 a.m. a Chinese survey ship entered the EEZ near Kumejima, Okinawa, deployed a cable‑like object and was radioed by a patrol vessel to stop.