Tokyo's defense hike may boost tensions

In response, China on Wednesday emphasized its objection to any infringement of its sovereignty of the Diaoyu Islands committed by Japanese aircraft or vessels.

China "remains vigilant against attempts to commit such acts", and patrols of Chinese planes and ships there are exercising jurisdiction,Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei told reporters.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe instructed Japanese Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera on Tuesday to increase surveillance of the waters around the islands.

Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told her Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida late on Tuesday that Japan should deal with its territorial row with China through dialogue and in a calm manner.

Washington has refused to take sides in the row. "The secretary reiterated our longstanding position on this," US State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland said at her daily news briefing. Washington will continue to avoid the outbreak of a major conflict over the dispute, said Zhou Yongsheng, an expert on Japanese studies at China Foreign Affairs University. "As an ally of the United States, Abe is not willing to let the situation get out of control," Zhou said.

Contact the writers at zhangyunbi@chinadaily.com.cn and caihong@chinadaily.com.cn

Liu Yedan in Beijing contributed to this story.

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