(VOVworld)- Sovereignty disputes continue to intensify the tension relationship between China and Japan. Over the past few days, a number of Chinese fishing vessels swarmed near the disputed waters which Japan calls Senkaku Islands and China calls Diagoyu in the East China Sea. Japan has also discovered a Chinese radar system installed on a gas platform in the disputed East China Sea. Recent developments have fueled the disputed relationship between China and Japan.

A China Coast Guard vessel is seen in waters near the Japanese-controlled Senkaku Islands on Saturday morning. | JAPAN COAST GUARD / VIA KYODO

On August 5, Japan summoned the Chinese Ambassador in Tokyo Cheng Yonghua to protest the intrusion of 8 Chinese ships into Japan-controlled territorial waters near Senkaku. On August 6, the Japan Coast Guard discovered 230 fishing vessels and 6 coast guard ships of China sailing near the disputed waters which Japan calls Senkaku and China calls Diagoyu. According to JCG, the number of fishing vessels was unusually large and they are arms-equipped. In addition to summoning the Chinese Ambassador, Japan’s Foreign Ministry’s Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau director-general, Kenji Kanasugi said this unilateral act raises tensions and is unacceptable. Despite Japan’s diplomatic protests, on August 7, the JCG spotted two Chinese coast guard ships entering Japan’s territorial waters.

On August 7, Japan presented a note to protest China’s military radar installed on a gas platform in the East China Sea. Japan fears the radar, a type commonly found on patrol ships and not necessary for gas field development, could signal China's intention to use gas exploration platforms in the disputed waters as military stations. According to a spokesman for Tokyo’s foreign ministry, Japan discovered the radar in late June and issued a protest on Friday through its embassy in China, urging Beijing to explain the purpose. Japan has been calling on China to halt construction of oil and gas exploration platforms in the East China Sea, accusing it of unilateral development despite a 2008 agreement to maintain cooperation on resources development in the area, where no official border between them has been drawn.

On August 2, the Japanese government released its Defense White Paper emphasizing that China’s disregard for international norms could result in “unintentional consequences.” One day later, China’s Central TV or CCTV reacted to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s nomination of Ms Tomoni Inada as new Japanese Defense Minister. CCTV news reported that the nomination reflected that Japan’s security policy is favoring the right wing and called for higher vigilance against this trend. CCTV reminded Inada’s multiple visits to the Yasukuni temple in Tokyo and her call to revise Japan’s constitution and strengthen Japan’s military strength.