BEIJING, July 23 (Xinhua) -- A China Coast Guard (CCG) vessel formation on Thursday conducted a patrol in China's territorial waters of Diaoyu Dao and its affiliated islands.

The patrol was a rights protection operation carried out by the CCG in accordance with the law, according to a CCG statement.

A file photo of the Diaoyu Dao in the East China Sea, September, 2012. (Photo: VCG)