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| Japan activists land on disputed islands amid China row | Japan activists land on disputed islands amid China row |
| (about 2 hours 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 people reached Japan's controlled Senkaku islands, called Diaoyu in China. | The activists swam ashore after a flotilla carrying about 150 people reached Japan's controlled 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. |
| The move triggered protests in a number of cities across China. | The move triggered protests in a number of cities across China. |
| More than 100 people gathered near the Japanese consulate in China's southern city of Guanghzou, demanding the Japanese to leave the islands, the state-run Xinhua news agency said. | More than 100 people gathered near the Japanese consulate in China's southern city of Guanghzou, demanding the Japanese to leave the islands, the state-run Xinhua news agency said. |
| Anti-Japanese rallies were also held in Shenzhen, Qingdao and Harbin, the agency reported. | Anti-Japanese rallies were also held in Shenzhen, Qingdao and Harbin, the agency reported. |
| The islands in the East China Sea lie on a vital shipping lane, and are surrounded by deposits of gas. | The islands in the East China Sea lie on a vital shipping lane, and are surrounded by deposits of gas. |
| They are also claimed by Taiwan. | They are also claimed by Taiwan. |
| 'Grave crisis' | 'Grave crisis' |
| 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. |
| They raised the Japanese flag when they landed on the rocks, emulating the pro-China activists who had made the same gesture during their trip. | |
| A journalist from the French AFP news agency, who is aboard one of the boats, said the flotilla had arrived off the main island, Uotsuri, 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, Uotsuri, at sunrise. |
| One of the politicians on the flotilla, Kenichi Kojima, told AFP: "I want to show the international community that these islands are ours. It is Japan's future at stake." | One of the politicians on the flotilla, Kenichi Kojima, told AFP: "I want to show the international community that these islands are ours. It is Japan's future at stake." |
| China has warned that the expedition would undermine its territorial sovereignty. | China has warned that the expedition would undermine its territorial sovereignty. |
| "Any unilateral action taken by Japan on the Diaoyu Islands is illegal and invalid," said Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Qin Gan. | "Any unilateral action taken by Japan on the Diaoyu Islands is illegal and invalid," said Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Qin Gan. |
| 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. |
| Some of the activists were deported by Japan, and others sailed away from the islands. | Some of the activists were deported by Japan, and others sailed away from the islands. |
| In a separate development, Japanese newspaper Yomiuri Shimbun is reporting that Tokyo is planning to replace its ambassador to China. | In a separate development, Japanese newspaper Yomiuri Shimbun is reporting that Tokyo is planning to replace its ambassador to China. |
| Ambassador Uichiro Niwa earlier this year warned that a plan put forward by Tokyo's municipal government to buy some of the islands could spark a "grave crisis" between Japan and China. | Ambassador Uichiro Niwa earlier this year warned that a plan put forward by Tokyo's municipal government to buy some of the islands could spark a "grave crisis" between Japan and China. |
| The government was reportedly furious with him for misrepresenting Tokyo's position on the islands. | The government was reportedly furious with him for misrepresenting Tokyo's position on the islands. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| Are you in the region? Have you been involved in any protests? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below. | |
| Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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