The equipment on Chinese coastguard vessels that patrolled waters near Diaoyu Dao is standard equipment, and no different from other countries' practice, said Hong Lei, spokesperson of Foreign Ministry of China in a regular press conference on December 23, 2015.

Hong has been asked why Chinese coastguard vessels patrolled near Diaoyu Dao were armed with weapons for the first time, as the Japanese government earlier expressed their concern over the issue, saying that they are worried.

"Diaoyu Dao and its affliated islands have been part of China's territory since ancient times. It is totally justified for Chinese coastguard vessels to patrol waters near Diaoyu Dao," said Hong Lei.