Abe has softened his tone toward China recently, compared with his tough election campaign rhetoric, said Lu Yaodong, director of the department of Japanese diplomacy of the Institute of Japanese Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

"The most important thing is what he says and does in the future," Lu said.

Liang said Kishida's priority is to find a solution to the tension but he predicted that Tokyo will not make any sharp diplomatic U-turns.

Chinese marine surveillance ships continued patrolling waters off the Diaoyu Islands on Tuesday, the Japanese coast guard said.

Japanese Defense Minister Satoshi Morimoto said on Tuesday that Tokyo will not hesitate to dispatch ships and aircraft to monitor the waters.

Media reports said Japan sent F-15 fighter jets to the area on Saturday to intercept a Chinese marine surveillance plane bound for the Diaoyu Islands.

Beijing has lodged a solemn representation on the issue, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said on Tuesday.

Contact the writers at zhangyunbi@chinadaily.com.cn and qinzhongwei@chinadaily.com.cn

Xinhua and Bao Chang contributed to this story.

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