<span style="color: #222222;">Japan today protested against an unauthorised Chinese maritime survey within its economic waters near disputed East China Sea islands. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">In Tokyo, Japan's Foreign Ministry said it lodged a protest with Beijing after a Chinese maritime research ship was seen dropping a wire-like object into the water off the northwestern coast of Japanese-controlled Senkaku islands on Sunday. <br />'' <br />'' China also claims the islands, which it calls Diaoyu. The ministry said that  it has urged China to immediately stop the survey. Meanwhile, Japan's Defense Ministry said a Chinese frigate was spotted yesterday near the Miyako Strait, and a Chinese reconnaissance aircraft was flying above the East China Sea. The latter prompted Japan to scramble a fighter jet.</span><br />