A seven-ship fleet from the China Coast Guard patrolled the country's territorial waters surrounding the Diaoyu Islands on Tuesday morning, the State Oceanic Administration said.

It marked the 59th Diaoyu Islands patrol by Chinese law-enforcement vessels since September 2012, when Japan announced a plan to "purchase" part of the islands, according to the administration.

Chinese ships have conducted regular patrols around the Diaoyu Islands and have circled the islands at a minimum distance of 0.28 nautical miles, the administration said.

Tuesday's patrol was conducted by ships CCG 2350, 1115, 1126, 2112, 2113, 2146 and 2506.

Xinhua

(China Daily USA 09/11/2013 page6)