Japan seeks dialogue with China on ties

Japan has begun seeking dialogue with China to repair frayed ties over disputed islands in the East China Sea, exploring the possibility of talks between their foreign ministers in New York later this month, Japanese government sources said Thursday. The move comes as anti-Japan protests that erupted across China following Japan’s nationalization last week of the Senkaku Islands, administered by Japan but claimed by China which calls them Diaoyu, appear to have largely subsided. It remains unclear, however, whether Beijing will ease its stance of criticizing Tokyo anytime soon, with another wave of protests possibly taking place this coming weekend. Japan is also intensifying efforts to inform foreign governments about its stance over the islands, given that China seems intent on strengthening its claim to the islands at U.N. settings and elsewhere. Both Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda and Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba are expected to go to New York later this month to attend an annual gathering of the U.N. General Assembly if Noda is reelected as president of the ruling Democratic Party of Japan on Friday as widely expected. Gemba is considering arranging a formal meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi on the sidelines as the latter is also expected to be in New York for U.N. events, according to the sources.