Japan says armed ship infiltrates waters near disputed islands

In this photo provided by Japan Coast Guard, an armed Chinese coast guard ship sails in the water near islands, known as the Senkaku in Japanese and the Diaoyu in Chines

Japanese authorities said that for the first time Saturday, an armed Chinese coast guard vessel entered its territorial waters off islands claimed by both countries that are a flashpoint of disputes between the neighbors.
Japan’s coast guard said the ship, armed with what appeared to be four gun turrets, was one of three Chinese coast guard vessels spotted inside Japanese waters in the East China Sea. It was the only one that was armed.
Chinese vessels regularly sail around the disputed islands, known as the Senkaku in Japanese and the Diaoyu in Chinese. But Japanese coast guard official Nanako Uehara said it was the first time an armed Chinese vessel had been sighted in Japan’s waters.
The three vessels have since left the area. The armed ship also was spotted Tuesday in the area, but Japanese officials said it didn’t infiltrate Japan’s waters at that time.
The latest development could trigger concerns in Japan that China may be escalating its activities in the disputed parts of the East China Sea.
Last month, a Chinese navy ship took its time traversing the waters. Japan earlier this year protested China’s unilateral exploration of undersea oil and gas deposits in the East China Sea, posting photos online of Chinese drilling equipment.
Relations between the two countries also have been strained over wartime history, though there have been signs of improvement recently. AP

In this Feb. 27, 2014 file photo, then Chairman of China Unicom Ltd. Chang Xiaobing speaks at a press conference to announce the company’s 2013 earnings in Hong Kong

Head of state-owned China Telecom probed

The head of a Chinese telecommunications giant has been placed under investigation on suspicion of corruption, the ruling Communist Party announced yesterday, as Beijing expands its anti-corruption campaign to more state sectors.
The party’s disciplinary arm, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, said on its website that Chang Xiaobing, chair of China Telecom, was suspected of having “severely violated disciplines.”
The commission did not provide any details on Chang’s possible infractions, but the vague term typically means corruption.
Chang formerly was the chairman of China Unicom, another major state-owned telecommunications company. He was named the head of China Telecom in August.
Chinese President Xi Jinping launched the anti-graft campaign after he took office in early 2013. The drive has since expanded, with Xi warning that prevalent corruption threatens the party’s rule. AP