Four China Coast Guard ships intruded into Japanese territorial waters near the Senkaku Islands in Ishigaki City, Okinawa Prefecture, at around 9:45 a.m. on April 12. The four vessels left the waters and entered the contiguous zone outside Japan’s territorial waters at about 11:30 a.m. This was the first time that Chinese government ships have entered Japanese territorial waters since March 16 and the fifth time this year. There were reportedly no Japanese ships operating in the area. The Japanese government lodged a strong protest against China through diplomatic channels. According to the 11th Regional Coast Guard Headquarters (Naha), this was the ninth consecutive day that Chinese government ships were sighted near the Senkakus, including the contiguous zone.