China hopes Japan can stop 'right-wing forces' from provoking disputes in East China Sea
Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang looks on during his meeting with his Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shoukry in Cairo, Egypt, Jan. 15. Reuters-Yonhap
Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang told Japanese Foreign Minister Hayashi Yoshimasa by phone on Thursday that Beijing hopes Japan can stop "right-wing forces" from provoking disputes over contested islands in the East China Sea, according to a statement from the foreign ministry.
Disputed East China Sea islets claimed by both China and Japan have long been a sticking point in bilateral relations. China calls the islands Diaoyu while Japan calls them Senkaku. (Reuters)