Yul Kwon:
Two of Asia's heavyweights are edging closer to a confrontation. China and Japan are escalating their dispute over a small group of islands in the East China Sea. Japan calls them the Senkaku and says its claim dates back to 1895. China calls the islands the Diaoyu, and that they've been part of its territory since the 16th century. Nationalist passions are running high in both countries. Earlier this week, Japan's Noda administration signed a contract to buy the islands from a Japanese family. The reaction in China was swift. The top leadership - China's president, prime minister, speaker of parliament - all say the islands are an indisputable part of China and that there can be no compromise. Here's state broadcaster CCTV.

Reporter:
Amid heightened tensions between China and Japan over the issue of the Diaoyu Islands, China is calling for restraint among its citizens.

Hong Lei:
The Chinese people are in great indignation and strongly oppose the Japanese infringement on Chinese sovereignty, and the provocations of the Japanese right-wing forces. But this is not directed at the Japanese people. The rights of Japanese nationals in China are protected under the law. Meanwhile, we are also asking Chinese citizens to express their demands in a legal and rational way.

Reporter:
After the Japanese government completed the so-called purchasing of the Diaoyu Islands, China's permanent representative to the United Nations, Li Bao-dung, met with U.N. Secretary General, Ban-Ki Moon. On Thursday, Li filed a copy of the Chinese government's Diaoyu Islands base line announcement with the U.N.

Li Bao-dung:
I stressed to the U.N. Secretary General, Ban-Ki Moon. That the Diaoyu Islands have been an inalienable part of China's territory since ancient times. The Chinese people and government are determined and fully capable of defending our country's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Reporter:
According to the Ministry of Foreign affairs, the baselines are delimited in accordance with the 17 base points selected from the Diaoyu Island and its affiliated islets. They say China's territorial sea extends 12 nautical miles from these baselines toward the ocean.

China says it has now fulfilled all the obligations as stipulated in the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea and completed the entire legal process regarding the announcement of the base points and base lines of the territorial waters of the Diaoyu Islands.

CCTV Anchor:
Two Chinese surveillance ships arrived in waters around Diaoyu Island and its affiliated islands on Friday morning. The deployment follows China's announcement on Monday defining its territorial boundaries around the islands.

Reporter:
Demonstrating China's jurisdiction over the Diaoyu Islands, at 6AM on Friday six Chinese maritime surveillance vessels arrived in waters around the Diaoyu Islands. On Monday the Chinese government announced the base points and baselines of its territory in the waters around the Diaoyu islands as well as the names and coordinates of 17 base points.

Maritime officer:
This is Chinese surveillance ship 50. Diaoyu Island and affiliated islands have been an inalienable part of China's territory since ancient times, and China has indisputable sovereignty over them. Any unilateral action taken by Japan is illegal and invalid. Japan should accept all consequences if it continues its actions.

Reporter:
In response to the Chinese patrol Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda said Japan would take all possible measures to ensure security. The Japanese government has also set up a special office to deal with the issue at the prime minister's crisis management center. China's foreign ministry said there should be no cause for concern.

Hong Lei:
Chinese surveillance ship fleets are only on patrol in our territorial waters. These are normal and, and official law enforcement activities and cannot be faulted. China does not accept the so-called protests made by the Japanese side.

Reporter:
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Agriculture says the Diaoyu Islands and their surrounding waters are traditional Chinese fishing grounds. The fishing season in the East China Sea restarts at 12 o'clock on Sunday. The ministry of agriculture has asked fishery authorities to take effective measures and strengthen law enforcement to ensure the security of the fishing industry. At the same time, two Taiwan coast guard ships have conducted patrols near the waters around Diaoyu Islands. The vessels are offering round the clock protection to Taiwan fishermen.

Wang Xinye, CCTV.