China has abruptly cancelled an invitation for 1,000 young Japanese to visit the Shanghai Expo amid a widening dispute over Japan’s detention of a Chinese fishing boat captain in disputed waters of the East China Sea.
The young people were supposed to travel to Shanghai on Tuesday at the invitation of Wen Jiabao, the Chinese premier. However, Japanese officials said the All China Youth Federation had announced late on Sunday night that the exchange could not go ahead because the “atmosphere is inappropriate”.
“The Chinese decision … is very inappropriate and regrettable,” said Takeshi Matsunaga, a Japanese foreign ministry spokesperson.