Full Text

July 1, 2010: China welcomes Japan‟s easing of visa requirements for individual Chinese citizens visiting Japan. July 3, 2010: Ministry of Land, Infrastructure Transport and Tourism announces plans to reinforce breakwaters around Okinotorishima. July 3, 2010: Two People‟s Liberation Army (PLA) warships transit between Okinawa and Miyakojima in international waters. July 9, 2010: Toyota Motors says it is open to pay increases for Chinese workers and announces plans to expand production in China. Honda Motors announces plans to increase production by 28 percent in the second half of 2012. Auto parts maker Denso announces plans to expand capacity in China. July 13, 2010: Kan government adopts basic program covering Japan‟s distant islands. July 13, 2010: Japanese police authorities visit China and meet Public Security officials in connection with the January 2008 gyoza poisoning incident – their third visit to China and first since the March 2010 arrest of the Chinese suspect. Japan-China Relations 111 October 2010 July 16, 2010: Strike hits Honda factory in Foshan, China. July 20, 2010: Maritime Self-Defense Force (MSDF) Chief of Staff Akahoshi Keiji announces MSDF training fleet will make a port call in Tsingtao in mid-October. July 20, 2010: Chief Cabinet Secretary Sengoku Yoshito informs reporters that the Kan government has decided on a comprehensive policy, including legislation, to secure remains of Japanese soldiers who died in China and Southeast Asia. July 27, 2010: Negotiations to implement the June 2008 agreement on joint development in the East China Sea begin in Tokyo. July 27, 2010: Chinese authorities announce July 17 arrest of three Japanese nationals for possession of amphetamines. July 30, 2010: Japan Tourism Agency announces 5 to 6 fold increase in Chinese visitors in July 2010 over 2009. July 31, 2010: Japan‟s new ambassador to China, Niwa Uchiro, arrives in Beijing. Aug. 5, 2010: Honda Motors reports 12 percent increase to 56,688 vehicles sold in China in July 2010 over July 2009; Toyota reports an increase of 1 percent to 64,200 vehicles. Aug. 8, 2010: Prime Minister Kan Naoto in speech in Kumamoto blames Koizumi visits to Yasukuni for downturn in Japan‟s relations with its Asian neighbors Aug. 15, 2010: Prime minister and Cabinet members refrain from visiting Yasukuni shrine; 41 Diet members along with LDP Secretary General Tanigaki, former Prime Minister Abe and Tokyo governor Ishihara do pay homage at the shrine Aug. 16, 2010: GDP figures for April-June quarter reveal that China is now world‟s second largest economy surpassing Japan. Aug. 19, 2010: METI Parliamentary Secretary Kondo Yosuke tells reporters that Japan has asked China not to reduce export of rare earth minerals. Aug. 27, 2010: Council on National Security and Defense Capabilities submits report to Prime Minister Kan. Aug. 29, 2010: Foreign Minister Okada meets Foreign Minister Wang Jiechi in Beijing; discussion focuses on Six-Party Talks. Aug. 31, 2010: Foreign Minister Okada meets Wu Dawei, China‟s special representative to the Six-Party Talks; Okada reiterates caution on resumption of Six-Party Talks. Japan-China Relations 112 October 2010 Sept. 2, 2010: Senior Vice Minister of the Cabinet Office Hiroka Hideo announces that Japan has begun destruction of chemical weapons abandoned in China by the Imperial Army. Sept. 7, 2010: Chinese fishing boat collides with Japanese Coast Guard ship in waters around Senkaku islands; captain, crew, and ship are detained. Sept. 8, 2010: Japan‟s Ambassador Niwa is called to Chinese Foreign Ministry; China demands release of captain, crew, and the fishing boat being held by Japan. Sept. 9, 2010: Ambassador Niwa is called to Chinese Foreign Ministry; China demands release of captain, crew, and fishing boat. Sept. 10, 2010: Japanese Coast Guard hands over captain of Chinese fishing ship to prosecutors for possible indictment for obstructing Coast Guard in exercise of its duties. Sept. 10, 2010: Foreign Minister Yang calls in Ambassador Niwa to demand release of captain, crew, and ship. Sept. 10, 2010: Japanese Cabinet approves 2010 Defense White Paper. Sept. 11, 2010: China‟s Foreign Ministry, citing the fishing boat incident, announces postponement of East China Sea negotiations. Sept. 11, 2010: Okinawa officials approve prosecutor‟s request for detention of captain of Chinese fishing ship. Sept. 11, 2010: Narita District Immigration Office reports the number of Chinese visitors entering Japan at Narita Airport from July through the end of August came to approximately 106,000 an increase of 1.8 times over 2009. Sept. 11, 2010: State Councilor Dai Bingguo calls Ambassador Niwa for midnight meeting to protest Japanese actions and demand release of captain, crew, and boat. Sept 11, 2010: Chinese surveillance ship approaches Japanese research ship on eastern side of Japan‟s claimed mid-line boundary; demands research activities be halted; Japan protests through diplomatic channels Sept. 13, 2010: China cancels planned 5-day visit to Japan of vice chairman of Standing Committee of National People‟s Congress Sept. 13, 2010: Japanese authorities release crew and ship. Sept. 14, 2010: Ambassador Niwa called to Chinese Foreign Ministry; China‟s demands release of ship‟s captain. Japan-China Relations 113 October 2010 Sept. 16, 2010: Japanese Foreign Ministry reveals that a Japan Air Self-Defense Force P-3C observed drilling equipment being transported to China‟s drilling platform in Chunxiao (Shirakaba) natural gas field. Sept. 16, 2010: Minister of Land and Transport Maehara Seiji visits Japan‟s Coast Guard station in Ishigaki in connection with Chinese fishing boat incident; praises Coast Guard actions. Sept. 17, 2010: Prime Minister Kan appoints Maehara as foreign minister. Sept. 17, 2010: Foreign Minister Maehara warns that Japan will take appropriate actions if drilling activities are observed at the Chunxiao (Shirakaba) natural gas field. Sept. 18, 2010: Prime Minister Kan and Cabinet officials discuss responses to Chinese actions in Chunxiao (Shirakaba). Sept. 19, 2010: Ambassador Niwa called to Chinese Foreign Ministry; China‟s demands release of ship‟s captain. Sept. 20, 2010: Ishigaki court extends detention of Chinese captain through September 29. Sept. 20, 2010: China detains four Japanese nationals employed by Fujita Construction for entering a restricted military area without permission in Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province. Sept. 21, 2010: China rules out Wen-Kan meeting during UNGA in New York. Sept. 22, 2010: Premier Wen in speech in New York demands release of ship‟s captain. Sept. 22, 2010: China‟s releases 2010 Diplomatic White Paper; devotes an entire chapter to China‟s borders and maritime rights. Sept. 22, 2010: Japan‟s National Governors Conference announces postponement of Japan-China Governors Forum scheduled for Oct. 28. Sept. 23, 2010: Secretary of State Hillary Clinton affirms that the US-Japan Security Treaty extends to Senkaku islands; Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Mike Mullen make similar statements. Sept. 23, 2010: Following APEC forum on tourism in Nara, Zhang Xilong blames Japan for fishing boat incident; warns of downturn in Chinese tourists to Japan. Sept. 24, 2010: Ishigaki prosecutors announce release of Chinese captain; further investigation deemed “inappropriate.” Sept. 25, 2010: Japanese diplomat meets four detained Japanese nationals in Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province Japan-China Relations 114 October 2010 Sept. 25, 2010: Beijing calls for an apology from Japan over fishing boat incident; Sept. 26, 2010: Prime Minister Kan refuses to apologize to China for the fishing boat incident Sept. 26, 2010: Japanese embassy requests early resolution of four detained Fujita employees. Sept. 27, 2010: Chief Cabinet Secretary Sengoku suggests that China pay for repair of Japanese Coast Guard ship; says China is responsible for putting relationship back on track. Sept. 27, 2010: Japan National Tourist Organization announces that the number of Chinese visitors to Japan hit 1.04 million January to August, topping the 1.01 million for all of 2009. Sept.28, 2010: Jiang Yu tells media that China highly values the Japan relationship but repairing relations will require the two countries to meet halfway and will require Japan to take “candid and practical actions.” Sept. 28, 2010: Japanese are arrested for throwing flare at the Chinese Consulate in Fukuoka. Sept. 29, 2010: Ten Chinese ships sited in waters near the Chunxiao (Shirakaba) gas field. Sept. 29, 2010: Trading companies report China‟s export of rare earth metals has resumed. Sept. 30, 2010: China releases three of four detained Fujita Construction employees.