China 'shocked' by Maehara's remark about China's hysteria+

BEIJING, Oct. 19 Kyodo -
China said Tuesday it was ''shocked'' by Japanese Foreign Minister Seiji
Maehara's description of Beijing's retaliatory steps against Tokyo over
maritime collisions near the disputed Senkaku Islands last month as
''hysterical.''
''We feel shocked'' by Maehara's comment at a House of Councillors panel
Monday, Foreign Ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu said at a press conference.
He said Maehara's comment goes against bilateral efforts to improve ties, which
have plunged sharply following Japan's arrest of the captain of a Chinese
fishing boat after a collision with two Japanese Coast Guard vessels Sept. 7
near the islands.
Beijing claims the Japan-administered islets have been Chinese territory since
ancient times.
China slapped retaliatory measures against Japan over the arrest and detention
of the skipper, including cancellation of ministerial and higher-level
exchanges and suspension of bilateral talks on joint gas field development in
the East China Sea.
Asked about a meeting between Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan and Chinese
Premier Wen Jiabao the two governments are arranging on the sidelines of Asian
summits slated