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| Japan activists land on disputed islands amid China row | Japan activists land on disputed islands amid China row |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| At least 10 Japanese nationalist activists have landed on a group of disputed islands, amid an escalating territorial row with China. | At least 10 Japanese nationalist activists have landed on a group of disputed islands, amid an escalating territorial row with China. |
| The activists swam ashore after a flotilla carrying about 150 activists reached the Senkaku islands, called Diaoyu in China. | The activists swam ashore after a flotilla carrying about 150 activists reached the Senkaku islands, called Diaoyu in China. |
| Japan's coast guard is now questioning the activists, who had earlier been denied permission to visit the islands. | Japan's coast guard is now questioning the activists, who had earlier been denied permission to visit the islands. |
| Japan's controls the archipelago but it is also claimed by China and Taiwan. | Japan's controls the archipelago but it is also claimed by China and Taiwan. |
| A group of pro-China activists landed on the islands earlier this week, enraging Japanese nationalist groups. | A group of pro-China activists landed on the islands earlier this week, enraging Japanese nationalist groups. |
| The Japanese launched their flotilla on Saturday, saying they wanted to commemorate the Japanese who died near the islands in World War II. | The Japanese launched their flotilla on Saturday, saying they wanted to commemorate the Japanese who died near the islands in World War II. |
| China warned earlier that the expedition would undermine its territorial sovereignty. | China warned earlier that the expedition would undermine its territorial sovereignty. |
| The islands lie on a vital shipping lane, and are surrounded by deposits of gas. | The islands lie on a vital shipping lane, and are surrounded by deposits of gas. |
| History of tension | History of tension |
| A journalist from the French AFP news agency, who is aboard one of the boats, said the flotilla had arrived off the main island, Uotsurijima, at sunrise. | A journalist from the French AFP news agency, who is aboard one of the boats, said the flotilla had arrived off the main island, Uotsurijima, at sunrise. |
| Kenichi Kojima, a local politician from Kanagawa, near Tokyo, told AFP: "I want to show the international community that these islands are ours. It is Japan's future at stake." | Kenichi Kojima, a local politician from Kanagawa, near Tokyo, told AFP: "I want to show the international community that these islands are ours. It is Japan's future at stake." |
| Earlier, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Qin Gan said: "Any unilateral action taken by Japan on the Diaoyu Islands is illegal and invalid." | Earlier, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Qin Gan said: "Any unilateral action taken by Japan on the Diaoyu Islands is illegal and invalid." |
| Earlier this week, pro-Chinese activists sailed to the disputed island chain from Hong Kong in a protest aimed at promoting Chinese sovereignty. | Earlier this week, pro-Chinese activists sailed to the disputed island chain from Hong Kong in a protest aimed at promoting Chinese sovereignty. |
| Chinese state media had praised Japan's "wise" decision to free them, saying that the speedy action had averted a deterioration in relations. | Chinese state media had praised Japan's "wise" decision to free them, saying that the speedy action had averted a deterioration in relations. |
| Rows over the disputed islands have caused Sino-Japanese ties to freeze in the past. | Rows over the disputed islands have caused Sino-Japanese ties to freeze in the past. |
| China claims the islands have been a part of its territory since ancient times, but Japan says it took control of the archipelago in the late 1890s after making sure they were uninhabited. | China claims the islands have been a part of its territory since ancient times, but Japan says it took control of the archipelago in the late 1890s after making sure they were uninhabited. |
| In September 2010, relations plummeted after the arrest of a Chinese trawler captain near the islands. | In September 2010, relations plummeted after the arrest of a Chinese trawler captain near the islands. |
| The captain was accused of ramming two Japanese patrol vessels in the area, but Japan eventually dropped the charges against him. | The captain was accused of ramming two Japanese patrol vessels in the area, but Japan eventually dropped the charges against him. |
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