NEW : Chinese ships leave waters claimed by Japan after water cannons fired . Earlier this month , the Japanese government bought the disputed islands -- known as Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China and Taiwan -- from the Japanese family that owned them for 2.05 billion yen ( US $ 26.2 million ) . Japan 's Coast Guard says it warned the vessels to leave its territorial waters . two Taiwanese vessels in the area , the University of New South Wales claims . Taiwan , China and China all claim ownership of island chain .
NEW : Chinese ships leave waters claimed by Japan after water cannons fired . Japan 's Coast Guard says it warned the vessels to leave its territorial waters . two Taiwanese vessels in the area , the University of New South Wales claims . Taiwan , China and China all claim ownership of island chain .