Q: It is reported that, on 22 December, the Japanese Maritime Safety Agency chased and exchanged fire with an unidentified suspicious ship that later sank in the East China Sea. What is China's comment?

A: The Chinese side has closely followed the development of the situation. After checking with the responsible department, we learned that the ship is not a Chinese vessel. The ship sank around 260 km outside China's territorial sea. We are concerned over the Japanese use of force in the East China Sea. We regret over the sinking of the ship and the casualties among its passengers. China is asking the Japanese side to further inform it of the incident.