China vessels' activities 'legitimate' near Diaoyu Islands: MFA

<p>China on Tuesday said that its coastguard vessels&#39; activities near the Diaoyu Islands in the East China Sea were &quot;legitimate.&quot;</p><p>Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) spokesperson Zhao Lijian made the remarks in response to a question about Japan&#39;s protest to China over the activities.</p><p>Diaoyu Island and its affiliated islands were part of China&#39;s territory, Zhao said at a regular press briefing in Beijing.</p><p>&quot;Recently right-wing Japanese fishing boats repeatedly made incursions into the adjacent waters of the Diaoyu Islands, seriously infringing on China&#39;s sovereignty,&quot; Zhao said. &quot;Chinese coastguard vessels were enforcing law on site against a right-wing Japanese fishing boat in accordance with law, which was a legitimate move to safeguard China&#39;s sovereignty.&quot;</p><p><span style="color: rgb(165, 165, 165);">(Subtitles by Li Peitian; With input from CGTN)</span></p>