Chronologies
Japan - China
Chronology from Jan 2012 to May 2012
: Tokyo Metropolitan Government opens an account at Mizuho Bank to allow citizens to contribute toward purchase of Senkaku Islands.
: Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs Kono Yohei meets Vice President Xi Jinping in Beijing.
: Chinese and Japanese citizens plant 1,000 trees in Beijing as part of ceremonies marking 40th anniversary of normalization; Ambassador Niwa and Chairman of the China-Japan Friendship Association Tang Jiaxuan participate.
: Supra-party delegation of 81 parliamentarians visits the Yasukuni Shrine in advance of Spring Festival; no Cabinet members are among the group.
: Japan National Tourist Organization reports a 5.7 percent increase in tourists from China in March, a total of 130,000 visitors.
: China’s Foreign Ministry reiterates China’s claim to the Diaoyu Islands.
: Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Secretary General Ishihara Nobuteru, son of Tokyo governor, announces postponement of his scheduled visit to China.
: Tokyo Gov. Ishihara Shintaro announces that the Tokyo Municipal Government is negotiating to purchase three of the privately owned Senkaku Islands.
: Fixed-wing aircraft of SOAA approaches Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (MSDF) ship in East China Sea. China defends the action as being in accordance with international regulations and part of regular flight activities.
: Japanese, Chinese, and ROK foreign ministers meet in Ningbo, China.
: Japanese and Chinese foreign ministers meet in Ningbo, China.
: Japanese and Chinese finance ministers meet in Tokyo.
: Japanese Foreign Ministry releases its annual Diplomatic Bluebook.
: Japanese Coast Guard finds two Chinese ships operating within Japan’s contiguous zone in the Senkaku Islands.
: Xinhua reports an agreement between China’s National Library and Shanghai Transport University to establish a Center for the Study of the Tokyo War Crimes Tribunal.
: Chief Cabinet Secretary Fujimura announces that Japan has registered one of the Senkaku Islands as a national asset.
: Democratic Party of Japan Secretary General Koshiishi Azuma leads a DPJ delegation to Beijing and meets Vice President Xi Jinping and Li Yuancho, head of the Chinese Communist Party’s Central Committee Organization Department.
: Prime Minister Noda expresses concerns over China’s growing military capabilities in an address to National Defense Academy graduates.
: Chinese ships Haijan 50 and Haijan 66 enter Japan’s contiguous zone in the Senkaku Islands.
: Okinawan citizens’ judicial panel indicts, in absentia, Chinese captain of fishing boat involved in September 2010 Senkaku incident.
: Japanese Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Edano Yukio expresses dissatisfaction with China’s protection of trademarks.
: Foreign Minister Gemba says Japan has no intention to turn China’s restrictions on rare earth exports into a political issue.
: People’s Daily publishes Prime Minister Noda’s appreciation for China’s assistance following the 2011 tsunami-Fukushima disaster.
: US, EU, and Japan bring China’s restrictions on rare earth exports to the World Trade Organization.
: Minister of Defense Tanaka announces appointment of Keio University professor and China scholar Kokubun Ryosei to head the National Defense Academy.
: Kawamura replies that his true meaning was misunderstood and refuses to withdraw remarks.
: Nanjing authorities state that restoration of official sister-to-sister ties will depend on a Kawamura apology.
: Foreign Minister Gemba Koichiro finds China’s decision to give names to Senkaku Islands extremely regrettable; announces a diplomatic protest.
: Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi calls on Japan to understand the sensitivity of history and Diaoyu issues and to manage them appropriately.
: The seventh Korea-Japan-China Senior Foreign Affairs Officials’ Consultation and the first Asian Policy Dialogue are held in Beijing.
: China announces it has given names to 71 islands, including Diaoyu Islands.
: Japan gives names to 39 distant islands, including four in the Senkaku Islands; Taiwan protests.
: Prime Minister Noda calls for Nagoya-Nanjing matter to be resolved quickly in an appropriate manner.
: Chief Cabinet Secretary Fujimura states that research activities will continue and announces a diplomatic protest. China says it is dissatisfied with Japan’s unilateral activities.
: Japan’s National Institute for Defense Studies releases China Security Report.
: China’s SOAA ship orders Japanese Coast Guard ship to stop research activities.
: “Genki Nihon” exhibition opens in Beijing as part of ceremonies to mark 40th anniversary of normalization.
: Mayor Kawamura says his remarks on the Nanjing massacre were misunderstood and refuses to withdraw or apologize. Nanjing says civil exchanges can continue.
: Nanjing announces temporary suspension of official contact with Nagoya.
: Leaders of Nagoya-Nanjing sister cities meet in Nagoya; Mayor Kawamura Takashi expresses doubts over Nanjing massacre.
: Chinese State Oceanic Administration Agency (SOAA) orders a Japanese Coast Guard research ship to cease activities in waters on the Japanese side of Japan’s claimed mid-line boundary in the East China Sea.
: China and Japan agree to extend until 2022 the final elimination of chemical weapons abandoned in China by the Imperial Army.
: Ceremonies marking the 40th anniversary of normalization are held in Beijing.
: Supra-party delegation of Diet members calls on the Japanese government to take measures to strengthen Japan’s effective control over the Senkaku Islands.
: Japanese Coast Guard ships find Chinese Maritime Fisheries Agency ships operating in Japan’s contiguous zone near the Senkaku Islands.
: Beijing responds that Tianwaitan gas field is indisputably within Chinese waters.
: Chief Cabinet Secretary Fujimura states that China’s unilateral development of the East China natural gas fields is unacceptable
: Tokyo files a diplomatic protest concerning Chinese activities in the Tianwaitan natural gas field.
: Kyodo reports China’s Maritime Safety Administration plans to increase reconnaissance flights over disputed areas in the East China Sea.
: People’s Daily proclaims the Diaoyu Islands to be a “core interest” of China.
: Chief Cabinet Secretary Fujimura announces the government’s intention to give names to Japan’s distant islands, including four in the Senkakus.
: Japanese and Chinese parliamentarians meet in Beijing for seventh meeting of parliamentary dialogue.
: China invites Crown Prince Naruhito and Crown Princess Masako to visit China to celebrate the 40th anniversary of normalization.
: Chief Cabinet Secretary Fujimura Osamu rebukes Consumer Affairs Minister Yamaoka Kenji for remarks on the possible bursting of China’s economic bubble.
: Four members of Ishigaki Municipal Assembly land on the disputed island of Uotsuri – known to the Chinese as Diaoyu.