Chinese ships enter Japanese waters near disputed islands

This disputed islands in the East China Sea are known as Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China.3 Chinese ships entered Japanese territorial waters, coast guard saysShips were staying near the disputed Senkaku Islands, despite coast guard warning The move continues a dispute that spans decades

Tokyo (CNN) -- Three Chinese ships entered into waters near small islands in the East China Sea that are claimed by both countries on Friday morning and were staying despite a warning from a Japanese Coast Guard ship, the coast guard said.

The move continues a dispute over the islands -- which Japan calls Senkaku and China calls Diaoyu -- that stretches back decades.

Last week, Japan scrambled fighter jets near the small islands in the East China Sea after a Chinese plane was seen there.

Chinese government ships have repeatedly entered the waters around the remote, rocky islands since the Japanese government announced in September it was buying several of the islands from private owners.

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Analysts say that by sending its own patrols into the area, China is challenging Japan's de facto control of the islands, which has been the status quo for the past 40 years.

Although claims of occupation and administration stretch back centuries, all of the disputes exist, to some extent, as legacies of imperial Japan's expansion through East Asia. CNN looks at the main flashpoints as tension simmers between rival countries over a series of scattered and relatively barren islands.November 15, 2012 -- Updated 0854 GMT (1654 HKT) China uses perceived provocations as a chance to change the status-quo in its favor, writes Stephanie Kleine-Ahlbrandt.November 28, 2012 -- Updated 1533 GMT (2333 HKT) Southeast Asia's top diplomat has warned that the South China Sea disputes risk becoming "Asia's Palestine"-- a violent conflict that destabilises the whole region.September 20, 2012 -- Updated 1045 GMT (1845 HKT) The temptation of patriotic blustering is hard for either side to resist, but both countries have a lot to lose, writes Jeffrey Kingston.September 18, 2012 -- Updated 0841 GMT (1641 HKT) The current wave of anti-Japanese protests sweeping China can be traced back to April and the firebrand governor of Tokyo.Today's five most popular stories

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