China to send 'warships' to disputed site

In a move that could escalate its tensions with Japan over the disputed islands, China is transferring “a number of warships in active service” to the China Marine Surveillance (CMS) to help bridge the gap between the patrol vessels of both the countries.

The move will reinforce Chinese maritime strength amid territorial rows surrounding the disputed Islands in the East China Sea, called Diaoyu by China and Senkaku by Japan, official media here reported.

China has no Coast Guard. CMS is regarded as Chinese version of the Coast Guard.
Conventionally, the People’s Liberation Army Navy hands over only retired warships to the CMS. However the vessels, which are expected to be transferred soon, are in active service, state-run Global Times quoted reports as saying.

The handover comes as the tensions between China and Japan entered a third month following the “purchase” of the Islands by the Japanese central government on September 11, forestalling an attempt by the Tokyo municipal authority, led by extreme nationalist Shintaro Ishihara, to buy the islands.