The Japanese government has decided to dispatch its Foreign Ministry's top official to China on a two-day tour to repair frayed bilateral ties over islands in the East China Sea, the ministry said.

The Diaoyu Island [File photo]

Deputy Foreign Minister Chikao Kawai will start his visit to Beijing Monday afternoon, and is expected to hold talks Tuesday with Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Zhang Zhijun, Japanese government officials said.

Earlier in the day, Kawai lodged a protest over the phone with Chinese Ambassador to Japan Cheng Yonghua about the latest entry of Chinese surveillance vessels into waters near the Diaoyu Islands.

Two ships, the Haijian 66 and Haijian 46, are carrying out patrol and law enforcement activities in accordance with relevant laws of the People's Republic of China, according to a statement from the State Oceanic Administration.

The Japanese government has set up a countermeasures team at the prime minister's office following the arrival of the two vessels.

Relations between Tokyo and Beijing have soured in the aftermath of Japan's "purchase" and "nationalization plan" earlier this month of the Diaoyu Islands in the East China Sea, leading to mass anti-Japan protests in China and the cancellation of a series of ceremonial events in both countries to mark the 40th anniversary of the normalization of bilateral ties.

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