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Japan boats head for disputed islands as China protests Japan boats reach disputed islands amid China row
(about 4 hours later)
Japanese politicians have set sail for a group of disputed islands, in the teeth of protests by China which claims them for its own. Boats carrying Japanese politicians have moored off a group of disputed islands, in the teeth of protests by China which claims them for its own.
A flotilla of some 20 Japanese boats set out for the Senkaku (Chinese: Diaoyu) islands and is expected to anchor off them early on Sunday. A flotilla of some 20 Japanese boats had set out for the Senkaku islands, called Diaoyu in China, which are under Japanese control.
The politicians plan to commemorate Japanese dead in World War II, when Japan occupied eastern China.The politicians plan to commemorate Japanese dead in World War II, when Japan occupied eastern China.
But Japan's government has denied them permission to land on the islands.But Japan's government has denied them permission to land on the islands.
China says the event will undermine its "territorial sovereignty" and this is the latest move in an escalating dispute over the islands.China says the event will undermine its "territorial sovereignty" and this is the latest move in an escalating dispute over the islands.
On Friday, Japan deported several Chinese activists who had landed there this week.On Friday, Japan deported several Chinese activists who had landed there this week.
The islands, also claimed by Taiwan, are close to strategically important shipping lanes, offer rich fishing grounds and are thought to contain oil deposits.The islands, also claimed by Taiwan, are close to strategically important shipping lanes, offer rich fishing grounds and are thought to contain oil deposits.
Emotions have been running high since the commemoration on Wednesday of Japan's surrender in World War II, when China and South Korea both protested against a visit to a Tokyo war shrine by two Japanese cabinet members.Emotions have been running high since the commemoration on Wednesday of Japan's surrender in World War II, when China and South Korea both protested against a visit to a Tokyo war shrine by two Japanese cabinet members.
FlotillaFlotilla
Just before 21:00 (12:00 GMT), the 150-strong party sailed out of the Japanese port of Ishigaki. An AFP news agency journalist aboard one of the boats confirmed that they had arrived off the main island, Uotsurijima, at sunrise.
They are expected to arrive off the disputed islands in the East China Sea at dawn on Sunday. The agency quoted one of the politicians, Eiji Kosaka, as suggesting that members of the expedition planned to step ashore despite the prohibition by Japanese police.
"I want to show the international community that these islands are ours," Kenichi Kojima, a local politician from Kanagawa, near Tokyo, told AFP news agency before he boarded. The 150-strong party had left the Japanese port of Ishigaki on Saturday evening, Japanese time.
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.""It is Japan's future at stake."
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, activists sailed to the disputed island chain from Hong Kong in a protest aimed at promoting Chinese sovereignty.Earlier this week, activists sailed to the disputed island chain from Hong Kong in a protest aimed at promoting Chinese sovereignty.
China had praised Japan's "wise" decision to free them, saying in an article on Xinhua news agency's website that the speedy action had averted a deterioration in relations.China had praised Japan's "wise" decision to free them, saying in an article on Xinhua news agency's website 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 largely uninhabited islands has 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 largely uninhabited islands has 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.