China has accused Japan of maritime incursions after a confrontation between the two country’s coast guards in waters around the Diaoyu Islands.

The nation's coast guard said on Sunday that a Japanese fishing boat and several patrol vessels intruded the previous day into waters around the islands.

In a statement, the coast guard said it had taken necessary measures in accordance with the law to warn away the Japanese vessels.

Meanwhile, Japan's coast guard said on Saturday that two Chinese maritime patrol boats left what it called Japan's territorial waters around the islands after receiving warnings.

It said its patrol vessels were protecting a Japanese fishing boat that had been approached by Chinese ships. (Reuters)