Former Japanese minister’s visit to disputed islands angers China

Former Japanese Minister of Defense Tomomi Inada joins with local administrators on the Japanese-controlled Senkaku Islands, which Beijing asserts is Chinese territory

Following a delegation of Japanese lawmakers’ visit to a controversial island, Beijing has protested with Tokyo; on Sunday, the Chinese embassy condemned the trip as “provocative.”

Local government officials and a five-member delegation led by former defense minister Tomomi Inada conducted a maritime inspection in the East China Sea surrounding the Japan-administered Senkaku Islands, known by China as the Diaoyu, on Saturday.

Sunday’s website featured a statement from a spokesman for the Chinese embassy in Tokyo stating, “Diaoyu Dao and affiliated islands are inherent territory of China.”

“In response to Japan’s infringing and provocative actions, China has lodged solemn representations with the Japanese side.”

Tensions persisted for a while due to frequent confrontations between Chinese fishing vessels and Japanese coast guard vessels off the remote chain of islands.

In recent years, Beijing has become more assertive regarding its claim to the islands, as Tokyo has documented the existence of Chinese coast guard vessels, a naval ship, and a nuclear-powered submarine.

Inada described it as unforgivable that China considers this region its own.

Source: Newsroom