Respect core interests

Although China and Japan are supposed to commemorate the 40th anniversary of their diplomatic relations this year, there seems little to cheer as Japan continues to test China's patience with its antics.

And, if Tokyo governor Shintaro Ishihara and other Japanese officials persist with their ridiculous plan to "purchase" the Diaoyu Islands, the issue is likely to spiral out of their control, jeopardizing the progress that has been made so far.

Ishihara is a serial China-baiter and in his latest provocation he announced plans to raise money from the Japanese public to purchase three of China's Diaoyu Islands from "private Japanese owners".