Tensions escalate as China threatens Japan’s UN hopes

A ROW between Japan and China intensified yesterday as the Asian powers each demanded protection for their nationals and Beijing insisted Tokyo did not deserve a permanent seat on the UN Security Council.

Three days after thousands of Chinese took to the streets to vent fury at Japan and its past aggression, the Japanese trade minister described China as a “scary country” and Tokyo demanded a Chinese apology.

There were also calls for calm, with Beijing’s envoy to Tokyo telling Japan it had nothing to fear from China’s economic and military rise.