Island Standoff Clouds China-Japan Ties in Run-Up to G-20
- China steps up activity around islands disputed with Japan
- Leaders’ summit at Hangzhou G-20 still under consideration
A Chinese coast guard vessel is seen sailing near disputed islands in the East China Sea on Aug. 6, 2016, in a photo released by the Japanese Coast Guard.
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With tensions high in the disputed South China Sea, it would seem an odd moment for Beijing to pick another territorial fight with a neighbor.
Still, China chose to send more ships near Japanese-administered islets in the East China Sea in recent months, triggering a flurry of protests from Tokyo. That’s even as President Xi Jinping prepares to host global leaders including Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Hangzhou this weekend.