China's warning over Japan visits
Source: Xinhua |
October 2, 2010, Saturday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
CHINA has issued a warning about travel to Japan after a bus carrying a Chinese tour group was attacked.
The National Tourism Administration said: "Chinese tourists and tour groups currently in Japan or planning to go to Japan in the near future should watch their travel safety."
The warning follows an incident in southwestern Fukuoka on Wednesday when a Chinese tour group's bus was attacked by a right-wing group.
The government agency said tourists should contact the Chinese Embassy in Japan or the nearest Chinese consulate in case of emergency.
China-Japan relations have been strained since a collision between two Japanese Coast Guard patrol ships and a Chinese trawler on September 7 in waters off the Diaoyu Islands in the East China Sea.
The Japanese Coast Guard seized the trawler and detained the fishermen and the captain on September 8.
China, which claims sovereignty over the Diaoyu Islands, said the seizure and detentions were illegal.
The 14 Chinese crew were released soon after, but Japanese authorities held the captain for 17 days despite strong protests from the Chinese government.
China has postponed talks with Japan on joint energy exploration in the East China Sea and said Japan's refusal to release the trawler captain had "severely damaged" relations between the two countries.
In addition, China canceled ministerial and provincial-level contacts with Japan, suspended talks on aviation issues, and postponed a meeting on coal.
The row between the two Asian neighbors has also overshadowed tourism. A Beijing-based health food company canceled a tour this month for 10,000 of its employees.
Chinese mainland residents make up the biggest number of tourists traveling to Japan, after those from South Korea and Taiwan.
On July 1, the Japanese government relaxed visa rules for Chinese nationals to encourage them to visit and help boost the nation's flagging retail sector.
In the first five months, the number of Chinese mainland visitors to Japan rose 36 percent year on year to about 600,000, said the Japan National Tourism Organization.
The National Tourism Administration said: "Chinese tourists and tour groups currently in Japan or planning to go to Japan in the near future should watch their travel safety."
The warning follows an incident in southwestern Fukuoka on Wednesday when a Chinese tour group's bus was attacked by a right-wing group.
The government agency said tourists should contact the Chinese Embassy in Japan or the nearest Chinese consulate in case of emergency.
China-Japan relations have been strained since a collision between two Japanese Coast Guard patrol ships and a Chinese trawler on September 7 in waters off the Diaoyu Islands in the East China Sea.
The Japanese Coast Guard seized the trawler and detained the fishermen and the captain on September 8.
China, which claims sovereignty over the Diaoyu Islands, said the seizure and detentions were illegal.
The 14 Chinese crew were released soon after, but Japanese authorities held the captain for 17 days despite strong protests from the Chinese government.
China has postponed talks with Japan on joint energy exploration in the East China Sea and said Japan's refusal to release the trawler captain had "severely damaged" relations between the two countries.
In addition, China canceled ministerial and provincial-level contacts with Japan, suspended talks on aviation issues, and postponed a meeting on coal.
The row between the two Asian neighbors has also overshadowed tourism. A Beijing-based health food company canceled a tour this month for 10,000 of its employees.
Chinese mainland residents make up the biggest number of tourists traveling to Japan, after those from South Korea and Taiwan.
On July 1, the Japanese government relaxed visa rules for Chinese nationals to encourage them to visit and help boost the nation's flagging retail sector.
In the first five months, the number of Chinese mainland visitors to Japan rose 36 percent year on year to about 600,000, said the Japan National Tourism Organization.
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