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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 and activists have moored off a group of disputed islands, amid protests by China which claims them for its own. | |
Some 150 Japanese, most of them ultra-nationalists, are on the boats at the Senkaku islands, called Diaoyu in China, which are under Japan's control. | |
They want to commemorate Japanese dead in World War II, despite being denied permission to go ashore. | |
China says the event will undermine its territorial sovereignty. | |
This is the latest move in an escalating dispute over the islands, which are also claimed by Taiwan. On Friday, Japan deported several pro-China activists who had landed there this week. | |
The islands in the East China Sea 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. |
'Illegal' move | |
An AFP news agency journalist aboard one of the boats confirmed that the flotilla 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 singing Japan's national anthem. | |
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 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. | |
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. |