A Japanese envoy has arrived in China to hold talks between the two sides over the dispute over an island that has raised fears of an armed confrontation. <\/p>\n
Japans state media gave prominent coverage to Tuesdays arrival of Natsuo Yamaguchi, leader of a junior party in the ruling coalition of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. <\/p>\n
Yamaguchi is not a member of the government so his meetings in Beijing represent a type of quiet diplomacy that could allow for a franker exchange of views than official talks might. <\/p>\n
Yamaguchi's visit is part of China's normal relations and contact with friendly Japanese political parties and organisations,'' Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei told reporters at a regularly scheduled briefing. <\/p>\n
Yamaguchi made no comments upon his arrival but told reporters in Tokyo he hoped his four-day trip would help ease months of friction over the uninhabited East China Sea islands that are controlled by Japan but claimed by China. <\/p>\n
However, he said Tokyo's assertion that the islands are Japanese territory is unchanged, rejecting Chinese demands that Japan acknowledge a dispute over their sovereignty. <\/p>\n
Both nations have called for dialogue recently, and Chinese state broadcaster CCTV led its noon news broadcast with a live report on Yamaguchi's arrival. <\/p>\n
Chinese media reported that Yamaguchi would deliver a letter from Abe addressed to Chinese leader Xi Jinping. <\/p>\n
Tensions soared after Japan's government bought the uninhabited islands, known in Chinese as Diaoyu and Japanese as Senkaku, from their private Japanese owners in September. Trade and tourism between the countries have dropped off sharply and almost all bilateral meetings between their officials have been cancelled. <\/p>\n
The islands are surrounded by rich fishing grounds and have a potential wealth of gas, oil and other undersea resources. <\/p>\n
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Japanese envoy in China to discuss islands<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" A Japanese envoy has arrived in China to hold talks between the two sides over the dispute over an island that has raised fears of an armed confrontation. Japans state media gave prominent coverage to Tuesdays arrival of Natsuo Yamaguchi, leader of a junior party in the ruling coalition of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Yamaguchi is not a member of the government so his meetings in Beijing represent a type of quiet diplomacy that could allow for a franker exchange of views than official talks might Continue reading