On Thursday morning, the China Coast Guard said that it had expelled a Japanese fishing vessel that had illegally entered the territorial waters of the Diaoyu Islands earlier this week.

In a statement, Liu Dejun, spokesperson for the China Coast Guard, said that the Japanese vessel illegally intruded into the territorial waters around the China's Diaoyu Islands from Tuesday to Wednesday.

"China coast guard vessels took necessary control measures and warned the vessel away," he said.

"The Diaoyu Islands and their affiliated islands are China's inherent territory. We urge the Japanese side to immediately cease all illegal activities in these waters," Liu said.

Chinese coast guard vessels will continue to conduct maritime rights protection and law enforcement activities in waters under national jurisdiction in accordance with the law, safeguarding national sovereignty, security, and maritime rights and interests, he added.