China and Japan’s Dispute over Islands Continue

China's state television, CCTV, reports on drills by 11 warships and civilian patrol vessels, practising how to respond to threats to China's sovereignty, an officer said.

Beijing has recently alleged harassment of its vessels by Japan near the Senkaku Islands, which are held by Japan but claimed by China.

Last weekend Japan held a large-scale naval exercise near Tokyo, American and Singaporean warships took part as well. Meanwhile, the Japanese and Chinese economies are counting a cost from the territorial standoff;
Japanese carmakers have slowed production at Chinese plants amid a drop in demand there, and last month saw a fall in the number of Chinese tourists visiting Japan, despite an all-time high in August.

Japan's government says it wants to repair relations, but neither side--right now--may be able to make concessions: next month China undergoes a once-in-a-decade leadership shake up and Japan too is expected, sometime soon, to hold elections.


Listen to the full report by regional correspondent Alastair Wanklyn: