Chinese-Japanese Hotline Gets Closer; Goal Is To Avoid Accidental Clash In E. China Sea

The Chinese and Japanese governments have reportedly reached a preliminary agreement to establish a hotline to avoid misunderstandings in the East China Sea, according to sources cited by Japan's Asahi Shimbun.

The agreement in principle was reached during talks held in Shanghai on Dec. 5-6, sources from both governments told the newspaper last week.

An initial accord on such a hotline was reached in 2007, which launched discussions on a direct link between the Japan...