Japan - Japan rejects China protests over island landing

TOKYO: Tokyo on Monday rejected Chinese protests over the raising of a Japanese flag on a disputed island, but called for progress in "mutually beneficial" relations with Beijing.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Osamu Fujimura said Beijing and Taipei had both objected after 10 Japanese nationalists landed on an archipelago in the East China Sea on Sunday.

"We have explained our nation's basic position and told them that we cannot accept their claims," the government's top spokesman told a news conference in Tokyo.

"There is no doubt that the islands are our sovereign territory historically and under international law, and our nation effectively controls the islands," he added.

Fujimura said Japanese authorities were handling the case "in accordance with domestic law" as the nationalists broke regulations banning landing on the islands, known as Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China.

Japan on Friday deported pro-Beijing activists who had landed on the islands, drawing flak at home from right-wingers, who insisted the 14 should have been punished for entering Japan illegally.

But Fujimura insisted that neither Tokyo nor Beijing has any interest in seeing overall relations affected by the dispute.

"The Japan-China relationship is one of the most important bilateral ties for Japan," he said.

"China's constructive role is necessary for the stability and prosperity of the Asia-Pacific region," he said. "We would like to continue to further progress mutually beneficial relations between Japan and China."

Fujimura also called on the Chinese government to ensure the safety of Japanese nationals in China as anti-Japan protests broke out there targeting Japanese businesses, restaurants and cars.

The Japanese foreign ministry has separately issued a travel advisory, telling Japanese nationals to be on alert while staying in the country.

- AFP/al

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