Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian Photo: Chinese Foreign Ministry

Diaoyu Dao and its affiliated islands are China's inherent territory, and the activities of Chinese marine science research vessels in the relevant waters fall entirely within the scope of China's sovereign rights, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on Monday.

Lin was responding to a Kyodo News report that cited the Japan Coast Guard, which claimed that a Chinese marine research vessel was extending a pipe-like object into the sea within Japan's so-called exclusive economic zone (EEZ) near China's Diaoyu Islands on Sunday.

Global Times