BEIJING - Chinese marine surveillance ships continued regular patrols in territorial waters surrounding the Diaoyu Islands on Saturday, the State Oceanic Administration (SOA) said.

A fleet consisting of the Haijian 51 and Haijian 23 told Japanese ships in the area that the Diaoyu Islands are part of Chinese territory and urged them to leave the waters, an SOA statement said.

"Haijian" is the Chinese equivalent of "marine surveillance."