BEIJING, Oct 19: China flexed some maritime muscle in its dispute with Japan over a chain of uninhabited islands, holding naval exercises in the East China Sea on Friday to demonstrate its ability to enforce its territorial claims at sea. Both countries have been displaying their naval prowess during a bitter dispute over the islands, called Diaoyu in Chinese and Senkaku in Japanese.

Tokyo angered Beijing last month by nationalising some of the islands, in a move that sparked violent protests in China.    Friday’s exercise involved 11 vessels from the East China Sea fleet and eight aircraft and will be coordinated with the marine surveillance agency and the fishery administration, the official Xinhua News Agency said.

The drills focused on patrol tactics and responses to emergencies that threaten China’s territory, it said. State TV footage showed a frigate, a fighter jet and some helicopters participating.—AP