A ship from Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force... that's flying the Rising Sun flag... has arrived at Qingdao Port to join a multinational event commemorating the 70th founding anniversary of China's Navy.
This is the first visit of a Japanese Navy ship to China since 2011.
Japan's Kyodo News Agency explained the destroyer's visit is aimed at building trust between the two countries by facilitating bilateral defense exchanges.
Tokyo refused to take part in the International Fleet Review held in South Korea's resort island of Jeju last year,... following Seoul's request not to hoist the Rising Sun flag,... which is viewed by the Korean public as a symbol of Japan's imperialistic past.