Japan Coast Guard reported that its vessel conducting a research mission off Okinawa Island in the country's southwest was met with a request from China Coast Guard to "stop and immediately leave the area." According to public broadcaster NHK, the Chinese side made the same request twice.
Japanese officials argued that the vessel was in the country's exclusive economic zone and that the mission was carried out in accordance with international law. The Tokyo government delivered a protest note to Beijing through diplomatic channels following the incident.
The note emphasized that the vessel was conducting research on Japan's own continental shelf and stated that "the Chinese side's request is unacceptable."
The research mission is conducted in the same area every year. This year's work began on June 15 and is planned to continue until the end of July.