Mistrust hindering Sino-Japanese ties

Strained Sino-Japanese relations have taken a toll on bilateral economic ties as major Japanese automobile companies in August saw slower growth in the Chinese market.

Toyota Motor Corporation, Mitsubishi Motors and two other Japanese automakers reported lower year-on-year sales in China. Nissan Motor Company, which posted five straight months of double-digit growth in the first half of the year, said sales increased by just 0.6 percent in August.

Nissan attributed the slow growth to increasing anti-Japan sentiment among the Chinese public in recent months.