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China Diaoyu patrol confronts Japanese
Source: Agencies |
September 15, 2012, Saturday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
Six Chinese surveillance ships briefly entered waters near the Diaoyu Islands in the East China Sea to conduct maritime surveillance yesterday, the first time China was carrying out a mission of law enforcement over its maritime rights.
Japanese Coast Guard ships radioed warnings to the Chinese vessels.
A Chinese Marine Surveillance officer aboard one of the ships radioing the Japanese vessels to demand they leave, China Central Television reported.
"The actions of your ships violate China's sovereignty and rights," the officer warned. "Any unilateral act from your side regarding the Diaoyu Islands and its affiliated islets is illegal and invalid. Please stop any infringing acts. Otherwise, your side will bear the consequences caused by your actions."
With a typhoon approaching, by late yesterday afternoo, all six Chinese ships had left the area around the islands, said Yoshiyuki Terakado, a Japanese Coast Guard official.
Tensions between the two nations have flared anew after the Japanese government bought the islands from the so-called private Japanese owners this week. China has warned Japan of serious consequences.
Anti-Japanese protests have since been held in Chinese cities, and many people call for a boycott of Japanese goods.
The dispute has stirred emotional memories of Japan's brutal occupation that ended at the close of World War II. Japanese politicians often anger China by visiting Yasukuni Shrine, a memorial to Japan's war dead, including top war criminals.
The Japanese Consulate in Shanghai reported on its website that several Japanese have been assaulted or harassed in the past few weeks. It said Chinese have thrown water bottles and hurled insults at Japanese walking on the street. One person was hit with soda by a Chinese person who shouted "Japanese!" A consular official said more than four people had been hurt in anti-Japanese attacks in the Shanghai area.
Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Osamu Fujimura called on Beijing to take steps to ensure the safety of Japanese tourists and residents in China.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said yesterday while Chinese were upset with Japan's violations of Chinese sovereignty, they had no problem with "Japanese people in general." He urged Chinese to "express demands legally and reasonably."
While visiting Australia, Japanese Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba told reporters that "we should never let the situation escalate."
China's Foreign Ministry said the decision to send its ships was part of legal law enforcement and patrol activities aimed to demonstrate China's jurisdiction over the Diaoyu Islands.
Fujimura called the fleet's deployment "extremely regrettable." Japan summoned China's ambassador to lodge a protest.
Chinese ambassador Chen Yonghua reiterated China's stance on the islands.
Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Le Yucheng said Japanese authorities have let the situation escalate by appeasing "trouble-making right-wing forces" at home.
Le catalogued incidents this year that he said were provocations, including a trip to waters around the islands by Japanese lawmakers and a visit by right-wing activists to mourn war dead.
"Japan's 'purchase of the islands' is by no means an isolated event," Le told more than a dozen Chinese scholars at a symposium on the history of the islands held in Beijing.
Le said Japan's economic slowdown and devastating earthquake last year have resulted in instability, allowing right-wing forces to take advantage to fan the flames of right-wing ideology.
Japanese authorities have indulged the right wing and used it as a shield for provocative acts, diverting attention from its problems, Le said, which has led to tense relations between Japan and its neighbors.
"It is a result of the changing political climate in Japan. There is a sinister tendency inside Japan that is taking Japan and China-Japan relations down an extremely dangerous road," Le said.
There is a risk Japanese businesses, already confronting a slowdown in China's economy, will be affected by the row.
Japanese Coast Guard ships radioed warnings to the Chinese vessels.
A Chinese Marine Surveillance officer aboard one of the ships radioing the Japanese vessels to demand they leave, China Central Television reported.
"The actions of your ships violate China's sovereignty and rights," the officer warned. "Any unilateral act from your side regarding the Diaoyu Islands and its affiliated islets is illegal and invalid. Please stop any infringing acts. Otherwise, your side will bear the consequences caused by your actions."
With a typhoon approaching, by late yesterday afternoo, all six Chinese ships had left the area around the islands, said Yoshiyuki Terakado, a Japanese Coast Guard official.
Tensions between the two nations have flared anew after the Japanese government bought the islands from the so-called private Japanese owners this week. China has warned Japan of serious consequences.
Anti-Japanese protests have since been held in Chinese cities, and many people call for a boycott of Japanese goods.
The dispute has stirred emotional memories of Japan's brutal occupation that ended at the close of World War II. Japanese politicians often anger China by visiting Yasukuni Shrine, a memorial to Japan's war dead, including top war criminals.
The Japanese Consulate in Shanghai reported on its website that several Japanese have been assaulted or harassed in the past few weeks. It said Chinese have thrown water bottles and hurled insults at Japanese walking on the street. One person was hit with soda by a Chinese person who shouted "Japanese!" A consular official said more than four people had been hurt in anti-Japanese attacks in the Shanghai area.
Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Osamu Fujimura called on Beijing to take steps to ensure the safety of Japanese tourists and residents in China.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said yesterday while Chinese were upset with Japan's violations of Chinese sovereignty, they had no problem with "Japanese people in general." He urged Chinese to "express demands legally and reasonably."
While visiting Australia, Japanese Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba told reporters that "we should never let the situation escalate."
China's Foreign Ministry said the decision to send its ships was part of legal law enforcement and patrol activities aimed to demonstrate China's jurisdiction over the Diaoyu Islands.
Fujimura called the fleet's deployment "extremely regrettable." Japan summoned China's ambassador to lodge a protest.
Chinese ambassador Chen Yonghua reiterated China's stance on the islands.
Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Le Yucheng said Japanese authorities have let the situation escalate by appeasing "trouble-making right-wing forces" at home.
Le catalogued incidents this year that he said were provocations, including a trip to waters around the islands by Japanese lawmakers and a visit by right-wing activists to mourn war dead.
"Japan's 'purchase of the islands' is by no means an isolated event," Le told more than a dozen Chinese scholars at a symposium on the history of the islands held in Beijing.
Le said Japan's economic slowdown and devastating earthquake last year have resulted in instability, allowing right-wing forces to take advantage to fan the flames of right-wing ideology.
Japanese authorities have indulged the right wing and used it as a shield for provocative acts, diverting attention from its problems, Le said, which has led to tense relations between Japan and its neighbors.
"It is a result of the changing political climate in Japan. There is a sinister tendency inside Japan that is taking Japan and China-Japan relations down an extremely dangerous road," Le said.
There is a risk Japanese businesses, already confronting a slowdown in China's economy, will be affected by the row.
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