One year on, Diaoyu Islands patrol continues

A fleet of four China Maritime Surveillance vessels are seen near disputed Diaoyu Islands,  in the East China Sea, in this photo taken by Kyodo Sept 10, 2013. [Photo/Agencies]

BEIJING - A Chinese fleet patrolled the waters surrounding the Diaoyu Islands on Tuesday, marking the country's 59th Diaoyu Islands patrol in the past year, the State Oceanic Administration (SOA) said.

The patrol was conducted by China Coast Guard (CCG) ships 2350, 1115, 1126, 2112, 2113, 2146 and 2506 on Tuesday morning.

Chinese law-enforcement vessels have conducted regular patrols around the Diaoyu Islands since September 2012, when Japan announced a plan to "purchase" the islands, according to the SOA.

In the past year, Chinese ships have circled the islands at a minimum distance of 0.28 nautical miles, said the SOA.

The longest single patrol in waters around the islands lasted for 28 hours and 36 minutes, said the SOA, adding a joint patrol was also held within the islands' territorial airspace and seas.

Regarding the illegal navigation of boats of Japanese right-wing activists in the Diaoyu Islands waters, Chinese law-enforcement ships have taken a series of legal actions to consolidate China's administration over the islands, the SOA said.

The Japanese boats violated international navigation rules and often traversed along or outflanked Chinese ships at a short range, which are dangerous actions in maritime traffic controls, according to the SOA.

At their closest approaches, the Japanese boats were less than 10 meters from Chinese surveillance ships.

The Japanese boats also provoked Chinese vessels by shinning strong light in attempts to deter China's normal maritime law-enforcement activities.

Chinese ships warned the Japanese boats to immediately desist and obtained evidence of their dangerous actions, said the SOA.

The administration vowed that it will further boost the law enforcement concerning the Diaoyu Islands and safeguard the territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests of the Chinese nation with actual actions.