China's patrol ship "Haijian 50" patrols in waters near the Diaoyu Islands, March 16, 2012. The patrol by China Marine Surveillance, the country's maritime law enforcement authorities, was carried out by two patrol ships "Haijian 50" and "Haijian 66", which arrived in waters near the Diaoyu Island and its affiliated isles in the early morning of Friday. Authorized by the Chinese State Council, the State Oceanic Administration (SOA), the country's maritime authority, and the Ministry of Civil Affairs released standard names of the Diaoyu Island and its affiliated isles recently. (Xinhua/Zhang Jiansong)

Chief officer Li Yimin (L) and sailor Zhu Yaotao control China's patrol ship "Haijian 50" to patrol in waters near the Diaoyu Islands, March 16, 2012. The patrol by China Marine Surveillance, the country's maritime law enforcement authorities, was carried out by two patrol ships "Haijian 50" and "Haijian 66", which arrived in waters near the Diaoyu Island and its affiliated isles in the early morning of Friday. Authorized by the Chinese State Council, the State Oceanic Administration (SOA), the country's maritime authority, and the Ministry of Civil Affairs released standard names of the Diaoyu Island and its affiliated isles recently. (Xinhua/Zhang Jiansong)

BEIJING, March 16 (Xinhua) -- A Foreign Ministry spokesman defended recent naval activity by China on Friday, describing the activities of patrol boats located near the Diaoyu Islands as "lawful."

"Our law enforcement vessels patrolled waters close to the Diaoyu Islands to maintain normal order and safeguard China's maritime rights and interests oakley sunglasses," spokesman Liu Weimin said during a routine press conference.

Liu reiterated that the Diaoyu Islands and its adjacent islets are part of China's territory.

The State Oceanic Administration issued a statement Friday saying that two of its surveillance ships, the Haijian 50 and Haijian 66, arrived in the area early Friday morning to begin regular patrols.