A Chinese navy spy ship entered Japanese waters on Wednesday as India, U.S. and Japan participate in the tri-nation Malabar naval exercise.

The Chinese reconnaissance ship shadowed U.S. aircraft carrier John C Stennis, according to the ship's captain, as warships from the three countries participated in drills in the Western Pacific, close to the waters China has laid claims on.

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"There is a Chinese vessel about seven to 10 miles away," Captain Gregory C. Huffman told the media before adding that the Chinese ship has been following the U.S. carrier from the South China Sea.

The Japanese government also confirmed that a Chinese warship entered its territorial waters south of the Kyushu Island. However, China responded by saying that it was acting well within the limits of the law and following the principle of freedom of navigation.

The Stennis and nine other naval ships, including a Japanese helicopter carrier and Indian frigates, are conducting the joint Malabar exercises in the seas off Okinawa Island, which is located around 400 kilometers from the disputed Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea.

The Malabar exercises have been described as "complex, high-end, war-fighting exercises" intended to increase the ability of U.S., Indian and Japanese naval forces to work alongside each other.

The news comes amid growing concern from United States and China about China's increasing presence in the waters of the Western Pacific while it continues to push territorial claims in the neighboring South China Sea.

Last week, Japan protested against the entry of a Chinese warship near the Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea, which is controlled by Japan, as previously reported.

Tagschina, US, India, Japan, Malabar naval exercise, naval drill, naval exercise, Malabar exercise, John C Stennis, East China Sea, Senkaku Islands, South China Sea