BEIJING (AFP) – China denied claims on Tuesday that one of its marine research vessels had been active inside Japan's exclusive economic zone, after Tokyo launched a formal diplomatic protest with Beijing.
"On June 23, a Chinese scientific research vessel went through the Japanese exclusive economic zone heading for the high seas for marine environmental research activities," foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei told reporters.
"When it went through the Japanese EEZ, it did not do any marine research activities. China has already made this clear to the Japanese side."
On Friday, Japan said the Chinese ship had crossed through its 200 nautical mile (370-kilometre) EEZ and conducted activities in the zone without asking for permission, prompting Tokyo to protest via diplomatic channels.
Chinese media has reported that the vessel was on a mission in the Pacific to test water for radioactive contamination after the March 11 earthquake and tsunami that damaged the Fukushima nuclear plant on Japan's eastern coast.
The exchange is the latest in a long-running spat between the neighbours over maritime territories and comes as neighbouring nations voice concerns over China's increasingly assertive stance as a naval power.
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