China navy in waters near Japan island: Toky

TOKYO: Chinese naval vessels were in waters near to a Japanese island Tuesday, the defence ministry in Tokyo said, as tensions with Beijing remain high over a disputed archipelago.

"A Japanese aircraft spotted seven Chinese naval ships in waters 49 kilometres (30 miles) south-southeast of Yonaguni island at 7:00 am (2200 GMT)," a ministry official said, referring to territory internationally acknowledged as Japanese.