Japan protests China ships near disputed isles ahead of Abe visit

Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, in his opening remarks during the 20th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-Japan Summit at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City on November 13, 2017, expresses his optimism over the upcoming developments that are expected to spring up due to the continuing partnership between Japan and the regional bloc. ACE MORANDANTE/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

TOKYO, Japan – Tokyo lodged an official protest with Beijing Wednesday, October 17, after Chinese ships cruised around disputed islands, days before a historic summit between the leaders of the Asian rivals.

Japan's top government spokesman Yoshihide Suga called the intrusion "extremely regrettable" but said Tokyo was nonetheless hoping to "take Japan-China relations to the next level".

The complaint, which is only the latest in a string of similar protests, comes before Prime Minister Shinzo Abe heads to China next week for talks with President Xi Jinping.

The trip will be the first official visit to China by a Japanese leader in seven years, as Asia's two biggest economies take gradual steps to improve their tense relations, marred by bitter memories of the World War II.

Abe has only been to China for international events in recent years, with relations between the two nations deteriorating from 2012 when Tokyo "nationalized" some of the disputed islets.

Since then, the two top Asian economies have taken gradual steps to mend fences but relations remain tense.

China routinely dispatches its coast guard ships, and sometimes military vessels, to waters around the islands, which are called Senkaku by Japan and the Diaoyu islands by China. – Rappler.com