A group of Taiwanese activists, escorted by the coast guard, set sail for the disputed Diaoyu Islands in the East China Sea late Sunday to challenge Japan's claim over the islands.
Taiwanese television showed the group, including 12 activists and 30 journalists, setting out by boat from the northeastern port of Shenao late in the night The Diaoyu Islands are claimed by Taiwan, China and Japan, the dpa reported.
Waving Taiwan's flag and unfurling banners marked "Trampling on human life," "Get out of Diaoyu Islands" and "Shame on Japan," the group was expected to reach the disputed waters before dawn Monday.
"Our mission is to declare our sovereignty over Diaoyu Islands and to protest against Japan's barbaric action in sinking our boat," group leader Huang Hsi-lin was quoted as saying by the semi-official Central News Agency.
Huang stressed the protest would be peaceful and that he would not allow anyone to individually try to land on the disputed islands without his permission
Media reports said said the Taiwanese coast guard dispatched seven vessels to escort the boat to the disputed waters.
The protest comes after a Japanese coast guard vessel sank a Taiwanese boat near the Diaoyus on Tuesday. Thirteen Taiwan fishermen and three crew fell into the sea but were rescued by the Japanese crew. The Japanese side claimed the Taiwanese boat had intruded into its territorial waters.
Taiwan on Friday recalled its de facto ambassador to Tokyo to protest Japanese actions after Tokyo refused to apologise and compensate for the captain. Taiwan does not have official ties with Japan.
Another group of protesters, made up of parliamentarians, will set off to the Diaoyu Islands on Wednesday to highlight Taiwan's claim over the islands. Taiwan's defence ministry said it will send a La Fayette frigate to take the lawmakers to the disputed waters.