China protests Japan's interference in research vessels' work

China firmly opposes Japan's disruption in the legitimate activities of Chinese research vessels in the adjacent waters of the Diaoyu Islands and has launched a serious protest with Tokyo, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said on Tuesday.

Mao made the remarks after the Japan Coast Guard said that a Chinese maritime survey ship appeared to be extending a wire into the sea within Japan's "exclusive economic zone" on Friday.

Diaoyu Islands and its affiliated islands have always been part of China's territory, it is fully within China's sovereign rights to have Chinese research vessels carrying out activities in the adjacent waters, which is legitimate and beyond reproach, Mao said.