Japan ambassador returning to Tokyo

Japan's ambassador to China Uichiro Niwa will return to Tokyo today to discuss how Japan should respond to recent developments concerning the disputed Diaoyu Islands in the East China Sea, Japanese Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba said yesterday, China Central Television reported, quoting Kyodo news agency.

Gemba denied the plan has any overtones of protest at China in connection with the issue, telling reporters in Hanoi, "We'll send him back to Beijing soon after he finishes his job," he was quoted as saying by Kyodo.

In an interview with the Financial Times in June, Niwa warned that the proposed scheme of "buying" the islands from their Japanese "private owner" to "nationalize" the islands would lead to an "extremely grave crisis."

Niwa's comments have been shouted down in Japan. His government bosses disavowed his remarks and censured him. Opposition members clamored for his dismissal.

Earlier this week, Chinese fishery administration vessels entered the waters off the Diaoyu Islands to conduct official duties in accordance with Chinese law. China rejected Japan's protests over patrols, saying the Diaoyu Islands have been China's inherent territory since ancient times.

Meanwhile, Chinese-Americans protested Thursday outside the Japanese consulate in Los Angeles against Tokyo's recent provocations over China's Diaoyu Islands, CCTV reported yesterday.

Cai Chenghua, president of the Chinese American Federation, said at the rally that Chinese-Americans should send out a clear message that the Chinese will not allow their territory to be invaded by Japan.