ANKARA

China expelled several Japanese vessels from disputed waters in the last three days, Chinese state media said on Thursday.

China Coast Guard spokesman Liu Dejun said they warned and drove away several Japanese ships that entered "illegally" in territorial waters of the Diaoyu Islands between July 2 and 4.

"We urge the Japanese side to immediately stop all illegal activities in these waters," he added.

He warned that coast guard vessels will continue to carry out maritime rights protection and law enforcement activities in waters under their jurisdiction in accordance with the law.

Japan and China have been in a long-running dispute over the islands, which Tokyo calls the Senkaku and Beijing calls the Diaoyu.

*Writing by Islamuddin Sajid