The apparent kidnapping of a Japanese man by a militant group in Iraq will not affect Tokyo’s troop deployment there, Japan’s defence chief said today as officials vowed to make every effort to win his release.

China’s Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing again refused to apologise today to Tokyo for anti-Japan protests in China last month that damaged Japanese diplomatic compounds and businesses.

A body found in Iraq resembles a Japanese civilian taken hostage by Islamic militants and threatened with death, but the government has not yet positively identified it, a Japanese government official said today.