A ship sails into Hong Kong after becoming the centre of a row between China and Japan.<br/> <br />Carrying Chinese activists, the ship returned after a journey to an island chain in the East China Sea, claimed by both Beijing and Tokyo.<br/> <br />Last Wednesday (August 22) seven of the group of 14 activists slipped past the Japanese coast guard and landed on the isles - known as Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China.<br/> <br />It triggered a diplomatic storm and a tit-for-tat landing by Japanese nationalists.<br/> <br />Back in Hong Kong, the Chinese activists said their boat had been damaged as they battled the coast guard for access to the isles.<br/> <br />Remaining defiant, a banner on the ship read: "Get rid of Japanese thieves".<br/> <br />Seven members of the group have already had a hero's welcome after flying back to China.<br/> <br />An unofficial welcoming ceremony is also expected to greet the ship later on Wednesday (August 22).<br/> <br />The territorial dispute is one of many dogging ties between Asian nations, rowing over areas potentially lucrative in gas reserves.
