Taiwan summons Japan envoy over 'provocative' act

TAIPEI (AFP) - Taiwan summoned Japan's representative Sunday to protest against the "provocative" act by a group of Japanese nationalists who landed on an island at the heart of a territorial dispute.

A group of about 150 Japanese right-wing activists and lawmakers sailed to the disputed islands in the East China Sea and some of them early Sunday set foot on one of the islands, which are administered by Tokyo and also claimed by China and Taiwan.

Taiwanese Foreign Minister Timothy Yang immediately summoned Tadashi Imai, Japan's de facto ambassador in the absence of diplomatic links.

"The provocative measure has added fuel to the tensions which are mounting in the East China Sea area," the foreign ministry said in a statement.