Japan’s Coast Guard on Thursday chased away a group of Taiwanese nationalists as they tried to sail to Japanese-held islands also claimed by Taiwan, officials said.
The group was filmed before they left northern Taiwan’s Keelong harbour, shouting at Taiwanese coast guard officials.
“I am not afraid to die, I am afraid of nothing,” one of the group said before sailing.
The Japanese coast guard warned the ship through loud speakers and wireless communication as it entered a 12-nautical mile zone set just outside Japanese territorial waters off the islets – known as the Senkaku in Japan and the Diaoyu in Taiwan – officials said.