This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/11/world/asia/japan-open-to-placing-officials-on-disputed-islands.html
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Japan Open to Placing Officials on Disputed Islands | Japan Open to Placing Officials on Disputed Islands |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| TOKYO — Japan would not rule out stationing government officials on islands at the center of a territorial spat with China, the top cabinet secretary warned Tuesday, as a fleet of Chinese patrol ships entered disputed waters amid tensions in the year-old maritime standoff. | |
| The row over the uninhabited isles in the East China Sea, known as Senkaku in Japanese and Diaoyu in Chinese, has tainted relations between the two countries even as they continue to depend on each other for trade. | |
| On Tuesday, seven Chinese patrol ships entered waters around the islands, the latest of many such incursions into the area, according to the Japanese Coast Guard. | On Tuesday, seven Chinese patrol ships entered waters around the islands, the latest of many such incursions into the area, according to the Japanese Coast Guard. |
| A day earlier, the Japanese spotted an unmanned drone aircraft in the islands’ vicinity, and scrambled fighter jets. Japan has not confirmed what nation controlled the drones, but has approached China over the incident, the government said. | A day earlier, the Japanese spotted an unmanned drone aircraft in the islands’ vicinity, and scrambled fighter jets. Japan has not confirmed what nation controlled the drones, but has approached China over the incident, the government said. |
| The incidents prompted a warning from Japan’s chief cabinet secretary, Yoshihide Suga, who told reporters that Tokyo stood prepared to make “a calm but resolute response to defend our territory.” | The incidents prompted a warning from Japan’s chief cabinet secretary, Yoshihide Suga, who told reporters that Tokyo stood prepared to make “a calm but resolute response to defend our territory.” |
| Asked by a reporter whether Tokyo might station officials on the islands to defend Japanese territory, Mr. Suga said the move was “one option” under consideration. | Asked by a reporter whether Tokyo might station officials on the islands to defend Japanese territory, Mr. Suga said the move was “one option” under consideration. |
| “Our country will never make a concession on the matter of sovereignty,” he added. | “Our country will never make a concession on the matter of sovereignty,” he added. |
| An attempt by either country to forcibly control the islands could lead to an escalation of the conflict, strategists have warned. They also worry that a small, unintended incident at sea as Japanese and Chinese boats chase each other near the islands could lead to a wider conflagration. Open hostility between China and Japan, an important American ally in the region, also risks drawing the United States into the conflict. | |
| The spat presents Washington with an unwelcome distraction as President Barack Obama presses for a military strike on Syria. | |
| Prime Minister Shinzo Abe came to power in December on campaign promises that initially included a reference to placing government | Prime Minister Shinzo Abe came to power in December on campaign promises that initially included a reference to placing government |
| officials on the islands. But shortly before the voting, Mr. Abe said that he would put off a decision on the matter. | officials on the islands. But shortly before the voting, Mr. Abe said that he would put off a decision on the matter. |
| He also did not include that promise in his official campaign platform for separate elections in July. A policy document issued by the ruling Liberal Democratic Party at around the same time mentions the need for Japanese officials to be based on the island, however, underscoring the government’s shifting stance on the matter. | He also did not include that promise in his official campaign platform for separate elections in July. A policy document issued by the ruling Liberal Democratic Party at around the same time mentions the need for Japanese officials to be based on the island, however, underscoring the government’s shifting stance on the matter. |
| The territorial dispute, which has lasted for decades, flared up last year after the Japanese government bought three of the five islands from their private owner. The move drew outrage from Beijing, which saw it as an effort by Japan to solidify its claims. Tokyo had | The territorial dispute, which has lasted for decades, flared up last year after the Japanese government bought three of the five islands from their private owner. The move drew outrage from Beijing, which saw it as an effort by Japan to solidify its claims. Tokyo had |
| said at the time it was acting to pre-empt nationalists from trying to take more provocative steps to assert control. | |
Hisako Ueno and Makiko Inoue contributed reporting from Tokyo. | Hisako Ueno and Makiko Inoue contributed reporting from Tokyo. |