(VOVworld) – On Tuesday Chinese vessels were spotted sailing for the 10^th consecutive day around the Senkaku Islands, which are controlled by Japan and also claimed by China as its Diaoyu Islands. According to the 11th Regional Coast Guard Headquarters based in Naha, Okinawa Prefecture, 3 China Coast Guard vessels, including one that appeared to be equipped with guns, were sailing in a contiguous zone just outside Japanese territorial waters.

This handout picture was taken and released by the Japan Coast Guard on December 22, 2015

On Monday Japan set up a Ground Self-Defense Force garrison on its westernmost island of Yonaguni, located some 150 kilometers south of the Senkaku Islands, to closely watch China's expanding maritime activities.