China's ambassador to Japan, Cheng Yonghua has said China's naval ships have every right to navigate in waters under its jurisdiction, and that China did not accept Japan's so-called protest. He made the remark after being summoned by Japan's foreign ministry early Thursday, shortly after reports that a Chinese warship had entered waters near the c in the East China Sea.

Japan's defense ministry said three Russian battleships entered waters close to what Japan considers its territory at about the same time.

Chinese naval ships occasionally sail close to the disputed waters, but this has been the first time a Chinese naval ship made its way into those waters.