Tensions Rising Between China and Japan

(BEIJING) -- A collision two weeks ago between a Chinese fishing boat and two Japanese coast guard patrol ships off the hotly disputed Diaoyu Islands has rapidly devolved into a bilateral crisis, pitting the two countries against each other in their worst diplomatic row in years.

On Tuesday, Japan's government warned that its country and China to beware of fomenting nationalism over the ongoing dispute.  Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshito Sengoku told a news conference said, "We should be careful not to stir up narrow-minded, extreme nationalism." He added, "We should try to resolve the problem without escalating the situation and we'll call for measures through all possible channels."

At the moment, that might be tough. China said today it would be "inappropriate" for the countries' premiers to meet this week at the United Nations.  It has cut off all high-level government contact with Japan and suspended talks on aviation and energy exploration.

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