Japan’s prime minister vowed to “expel by force” any Chinese landing on islands at the centre of a territorial row, after eight Chinese govt vessels sailed into the disputed waters.

The latest clash over the islands came as nearly 170 Japanese lawmakers visited the controversial Yasukuni war shrine in centralTokyo, seen as a potent symbol ofJapan’s imperialist past, riling its neighboursChinaandSouth Korea.Tokyosummoned the Chinese ambassador toJapanafter the state-owned Chinese ships entered its territorial waters whileBeijingcalled the shrine visit an “attempt to denyJapan’s history of aggression”.

The flotilla is the biggest to sail into the disputed waters in a single day sinceTokyonationalised part of the archipelago in September. The islands are surrounded by rich fishing grounds and are believed to harbour vast natural resources below the seabed.