China reaffirms routine military flights over East China Sea-(Senkaku/Diaoyu issue)

China says its military planes are carrying out "routine flights" in its airspace over the East China Sea. Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei made the comments at a press briefing on Friday, responding to media reports that Japan deployed fighter jets to head off a number of Chinese military planes over the East China Sea on Thursday. 


Hong Lei, Spokesman of Chinese Foreign Ministry, said, "Chinese military planes are carrying out routine flights in relevant airspace over the East China Sea. China firmly opposes Japan’s moves to gratuitously escalate the situation and create tension."
 .cntv.cn
11/1/13
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• Abe remains hawkish on Diaoyu Islands dispute

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has re-affirmed his "hawkish" stance on the Diaoyu Islands dispute, by saying Japan will not negotiate with China on the issue.
When asked about his foreign policy at a press conference on Friday, Abe said Japan will not back down on the issue. But he added that he hoped to restore bilateral relations based on common strategic interests with China. Abe also says he wants to establish a "trusting relationship" with South Korean President-elect Park Geun-hye as soon as possible.
Abe, who took office just over 2 weeks ago, is set to embark on a round of frantic regional diplomacy, looking to strengthen Japan’ regional alliances. Next week, he’ll make his first trip abroad since beginning his second stint as Prime Minister, travelling to Indonesia, Vietnam and Thailand.
Abe has also sent his foreign minister, Fumio Kishida, to visit the Philippines, Singapore, Brunei and Australia this week. Meanwhile, Japan and the US have begun discussions over a planned revision of their defense cooperation guidelines. 
http://english.cntv.cn/program/asiatoday/20130111/108499.shtml
11/1/13
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