A Japanese patrol aircraft saw an advanced Chinese fisheries patrol ship in waters near the disputed island chain in the East China Sea around 8:25 am (2325 GMT), a coast guard spokeswoman said.

Around 20 minutes later, the Japan Coast Guard found another vessel in the area, she said, adding that Japanese patrol ships are telling the Chinese vessels to leave.

Japan and China both claim the potentially resource-rich islets, known as the Diaoyus in China and Senkakus in Japan, along with the nearby seas.

The latest dispute broke out in September and has brought ties between the Asian rivals to their lowest point in years, fuelling nationalist anger in both nations. Leaders are now gradually trying to mend relations.

Saturday's maritime encounter came after a helicopter-equipped advanced fisheries vessel left the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou for the East China Sea on a mission that could last 20 days, according to a report by the state Xinhua news agency on Tuesday.

It was the first time since October 24 that Chinese patrol vessels had been seen operating in the region, Jiji Press said, adding that it was not immediately clear whether the ship carried a chopper.

"The two vessels came as close as 23 kilometres (14 miles) to the islands," the coast guard spokeswoman said, adding that the ships had not entered what Japan considers its waters.

"They seem to be travelling just outside our territorial waters," she said.

The Chinese sailors have told the Japan Coast Guard that they are only carrying out their duty, according to national broadcaster NHK and Jiji Press.

The latest ship, the 2,580-ton Yuzheng 310, is "the fastest and had the most sophisticated technologies", Xinhua had quoted an official as saying Tuesday.

The other Chinese boat was identified as "Yuzheng 201", the coast guard spokeswoman said.

The Japanese government has set up a team to relay up-to-date information on the situation to various ministries, Jiji Press said.

News of the encounter comes as Japan and China attempt to get their relationship back on an even keel.

The bitter row erupted in September when the Japan Coast Guard arrested a Chinese trawler captain for allegedly ramming two of its vessels in the area.

The arrest sparked serious protests by China, which cut or dramatically reduced political, cultural and economic exchanges with Japan.

On the sidelines of a regional summit in Japan at the weekend, the two sides appeared to take a step beyond the dispute when Chinese President Hu Jintao held a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan.

Hu promised China was committed to being a good neighbour, as concerns rise over its assertive behaviour in the Asia-Pacific.

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