China Puts Off Young Japanese Invitation

Shanghai, Sept. 20 (Jiji Press)--China has put off an invitation of
about 1,000 young Japanese people to the Shanghai expo, initially set for
this week, it was learned Monday.
The postponement came as China announced hard-line measures against
Japan Sunday amid escalating tension between the two countries over Japan's
arrest of the captain of a Chinese fishing boat near disputed islands in the
East China Sea.
A Chinese host group informed the Japanese embassy in Beijing
Sunday night of the delay of the invitation, according to the Japanese
Foreign Ministry.
The Chinese side did not mention the boat incident but told the
Japanese embassy that it is not appropriate to carry out such an exchange
program at the current atmosphere, according to the Japanese ministry.
Japan responded immediately by telling the Chinese side that it is
very inappropriate and regrettable that such a decision was made just before
the visit.
The young Japanese people were scheduled to visit Shanghai Tuesday
and Friday at the invitation extended by Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao when he
visited Japan in May.
China on Sunday announced suspension of ministerial-level exchanges
and other measures just after Japan extended the detention of the Chinese
captain who was arrested earlier this month after his boat collided with
Japanese coast guard vessels.