Japan beefs up security around Senkaku islands

The government has stepped up surveillance and security activities around the Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea following its nationalization of the islands.

Twelve Chinese surveillance ships entered a zone just outside Japanese territorial waters near the islands on Tuesday. Three of them temporarily intruded into Japanese waters.

The government has repeatedly warned the Chinese ships not to cross the Japanese boundary. It has deployed additional Coast Guard patrol vessels in the area.

China's state-run radio station has reported that 1,000 fishing boats that left Zhejiang and Fujian provinces were expected to arrive near the Islands.

The government will try to prevent Chinese fishing vessels from intruding into Japanese waters near the Senkakus by such means as directing jets of water at them.

Japanese authorities are to immediately arrest any foreign crewmembers who land on the islands.

Anti-Japan protests continue in China over the islands' nationalization.

Japan will continue to ask China to ensure the safety of Japanese nationals in the country. It will also demand measures to prevent damage to Japanese-affiliated firms.