Chinese government ships returned to waters off disputed Japanese-controlled islands Tuesday, the coastguard said, a week after they last left and days after heated exchanges at the United Nations.<br />Four maritime surveillance ships entered the waters shortly after 12:30 pm (0330 GMT), where they remained for around six hours before departing.<br />It was the first time in about a week that Chinese ships had entered the waters, following a lull in a diplomatic row over the sovereignty of the islands known as the Senkakus in Japan and Diaoyus in China.<br />Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba said the Japanese government lodged an immediate protest with China over the latest case, telling reporters: "We want the Chinese side to exercise self-restraint."<br />In Beijing, foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei said China was "strongly unsatisfied" with moves by "Japanese right-wingers" to enter waters around the islands.<br />Al Jazeera's Steve Chao reports from Ishigaki in Japan.
