Chinese media on Monday warned Japan it risked intensified reprisals over a sea dispute and claimed that many back military force to settle a long feud over islands between Asia's two biggest economies.
China's government on Sunday suspended high-level exchanges and threatened more steps after a Japanese court extended to September 29 the detention of Zhan Qixiong, whose fishing boat early this month collided with two Japanese coast guard ships near islets claimed by both sides.
Global Times, a popular tabloid ran an online poll which it said showed 96 per cent of respondents backed armed force to settle the dispute over the islets, called Diaoyu by China and Senkaku by Japan.
“There must be a war between China and Japan. China must cleanse its past shame,” said one comment on the poll on the newspaper's website.
Though emotions are running high in China over the issue, analysts say there are no signs of it turning into a military conflict.
Meanwhile, Japan on Monday urged China to act calmly so as not to escalate a the row, saying it was “regrettable” that Beijing has upped the pressure.
{{/usCountry}}Meanwhile, Japan on Monday urged China to act calmly so as not to escalate a the row, saying it was “regrettable” that Beijing has upped the pressure.
{{/usCountry}}But tension between the nations is likely to be held in check by deeper economic inter-dependence.