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Japan boats reach disputed islands amid China row | Japan boats reach disputed islands amid China row |
(40 minutes later) | |
Boats carrying Japanese politicians have moored off a group of disputed islands, amid protests by China which claims them for its own. | |
A flotilla of some 20 Japanese boats had set out for the Senkaku islands, called Diaoyu in China, which are under Japanese control. | 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. |
Flotilla | Flotilla |
An AFP news agency journalist aboard one of the boats confirmed that they had arrived off the main island, Uotsurijima, at sunrise. | An AFP news agency journalist aboard one of the boats confirmed that they had arrived off the main island, Uotsurijima, at sunrise. |
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. | 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. |
The 150-strong party had left the Japanese port of Ishigaki on Saturday evening, Japanese time. | 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. | 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." |
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, 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. |