Japan and China set up system to prevent conflict

The defence ministers of Japan and China have agreed to set up a liaison system to prevent conflicts at sea.  It comes after a diplomatic row between the two countries.

Reuters

Japanese Defence Minister Toshimi Kitazawa met his Chinese counterpart  Liang  Guanglie in Hanoi to try to find common ground after last month's incident.

China broke off all high-level contact with Tokyo last month after Japan detained a Chinese fishing boat captain whose vessel collided Japanese coast guard patrol ships in waters claimed by both sides.

The row between Asia's two biggest economies was their worst in years and undermined recent efforts to improve relations.

The Chinese skipper was released after more than two weeks.

The two defence ministers have agreed to set up a liaison system to prevent such rows, according to the Jiji wire agency.