TOKYO (AP) — Japan on Friday called on South Korea to end its "illegal occupation" of tiny islets and condemned China for its claims over separate islands, saying it would not tolerate recent unauthorized landings by Chinese activists and the South Korean president. Parliament passed symbolic resolutions condemning South Korean President Lee Myung-bak's visit to the tiny, rocky outcroppings in the Sea of Japan earlier this month and accusing China of allowing activists to land a few days later on a disputed East China Sea island chain. "Since earlier this month, a series of incidents have occurred, threatening to violate our sovereignty, which we find extremely regrettable. We do not tolerate these actions," Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda told a news conference. Noda said that Lee had "illegally landed" on the islands that Japan and South Korea both claim. They are called Takeshima in Japanese and Dokdo in Korean. "We condemn (Lee's landing) and strongly demand South Korea end its illegal occupation of Takeshima as soon as possible," a resolution passed Friday by lawmakers said. It was the strongest language so far in a dispute that has sent the two countries' relations to the lowest levels in years. Then last week, a boatful of Chinese activists travelled from Hong Kong to islands in the East China Sea that are controlled by Japan but also claimed by China and Taiwan to push China's claim. All 14 activists were arrested for illegal entry onto one of the islands — known as Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China — released two days later and deported. Noda, who has come under pressure from critics to take tougher action to protect the islands, announced Friday that Japan would strengthen its patrols in the area around the Senkaku/Diaoyu so further "incursions by foreigners" do not take place. He also said Japan would further push its position that the islands are Japanese territory in international forums. The Chinese activists' landing and a retaliatory one to the same islands last weekend by nationalist Japanese have made the issue one of the biggest territorial flare-ups between the two Asian giants in years, amid persistent animosities over Japan's imperialist past and new fears of China's rising economic and military clout. Adding to the pressure, Tokyo's nationalist governor Shintaro Ishihara said Friday he wants to visit the Senkaku in October to accompany a coastal and land survey of the islands. "If I get arrested, that would be fine with me," Ishihara said.
Japan condemns China, SKorea for island landings
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FILE - In this Aug. 18, 2012 file photo, anti-Japan protesters shout slogans while marching with Chinese national flags and banners towards the Japanese Embassy in Beijing, China. Chinese government's sensitivity over protests that took place in several Chinese cities on Aug. 19 over the set of islands, known as Diaoyu in China and Senkaku in Japan, reflects its perpetual fear that allowing its people too much freedom to hold protests, any protests, could snowball into domestic dissidence. (AP Photo/Alexander F. Yuan, File, File)
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Korean War veterans shout slogans during a rally against Japan's sovereignty claims over disputed islets in the Sea of Japan, called Dokdo in Korean and Takeshima in Japanese, in front of the Japanese Embassy in Seoul, South Korea, Thursday, Aug. 23, 2012. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)
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Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda arrives at a press conference at his official residence in Tokyo, Friday, Aug. 24, 2012. Japan's relations with Seoul have rapidly deteriorated since South Korean President Lee Myung-bak visited tiny islets in the Sea of Japan this month to push his country's claim to them. Days later, a boatful of Chinese activists landed on a group of East China Sea islands claimed by Japan, China and Taiwan. Noda said Japan will strengthen security around the East China Sea islands to prevent future landing attempts. (AP Photo/Itsuo Inouye)
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People watch a TV news broadcasting that Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda speaks during a press conference, at Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, Aug. 24, 2012. Japan on Friday called on South Korea to end its “illegal occupation” of tiny islets in the strongest language yet so far in a dispute that has sent the two countries’ relations to the lowest levels in years.(AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)
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Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda speaks during a press conference at his official residence in Tokyo, Friday, Aug. 24, 2012. Japan's relations with Seoul have rapidly deteriorated since South Korean President Lee Myung-bak visited tiny islets in the Sea of Japan this month to push his country's claim to them. Days later, a boatful of Chinese activists landed on a group of East China Sea islands claimed by Japan, China and Taiwan. Noda said Japan will strengthen security around the East China Sea islands to prevent future landing attempts. (AP Photo/Itsuo Inouye)
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