Kor Kian Beng

The Straits Times

Publication Date : 13-11-2014

China and Japan have crossed swords again over the disputed Diaoyu/Senkaku islands, just days after the first summit by their top leaders which gave hope for improvement in their rocky ties.

A spokesman for China's embassy in Japan yesterday criticised Japanese foreign minister Fumio Kishida for his remarks that Japan has not changed its position that the East China Sea islands administered by Tokyo but claimed by Beijing are not in dispute.

According to Japanese media reports, Kishida also said at a press conference on Tuesday that maritime tensions between both countries were caused by China's air defence identification zone in the East China Sea and activities by Chinese fishermen in the waters nearby.

"We express serious concern and opposition to comments from the Japanese," said the spokesman for the Chinese Embassy.

"Diaoyu islands are Chinese territory. The meaning and spirit of the four-point consensus reached by both sides days ago are clear."

The territorial dispute, which sparked turmoil in bilateral ties after Japan nationalised some of the islands in Sept 2012, was a key part of a four-point agreement reached by both sides last Friday.

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China, Japan spar again over islands