China on Wednesday lodged solemn representations with Japan on the latter's illegal detention of Chinese nationals going to the Diaoyu Islands.
Fu Ying, China's vice foreign minister, urgently summoned Japanese Ambassador to China Uichiro Niwa and made a phone call to her Japanese counterpart Tsuyoshi Yamaguchi on the matter.
Fu reiterated China's sovereignty over the Diaoyu Islands and the affiliated islets, and demanded the Japanese side guarantee the safety of the 14 Chinese citizens and free them immediately without any conditions.
Japan is facing territorial disputes with 3 neighbouring countries.
In April, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda indicated that the Japanese government is considering the purchase of the Diaoyu Islands which are claimed by China. The announcement suspended many exchange programs between the two countries, including previously scheduled visits to Japan by Chinese leaders.
At the end of July, Japan revised its defence white paper, again repeating claims to the Takeshima islands, known as Dokdo in South Korea. South Korea responded with a visit to the islet by President Lee Myung-bak in August, to demonstrate Seouls sovereignty over the area.
And Japans long-running stand-off with Russia regarding four islands at the end of Kuril Chain, has resulted in Russia suspending the construction of oil pipelines to Japan.
Analysts say right-wing nationalists are becoming increasingly active in Japanese politics, economy and foreign policy, leading Japan to be more bold in its disputes with its neighbours.
Even the New York Times points out that Japans denial of aggression and rewriting of history in its textbooks has placed a huge gap between it and neighbouring countries.
