BEIJING - China's marine surveillance fleet has expelled a number of Japanese vessels illegally sailing in waters around the Diaoyu Islands on Tuesday morning, according to a statement issued by the State Oceanic Administration.

The administration said that a fleet comprising four China Marine Surveillance ships encountered the Japanese vessels at around 10 am while on a routine patrol. They conducted surveillance over the Japanese vessels and took photos as evidence.

Meanwhile, the fleet radioed the Japanese vessels, the number of which was not revealed in the statement, to reiterate China's sovereignty over the Diaoyu Islands and the waters around them.