Tokyo is preparing to deport these Chinese activists who set foot on a disputed island claimed by both Japan and China.

Japan and China have been at odds since the activists were detained on Wednesday after using a boat to land on the rocky, uninhabited isles.

Protesters in China are staging anti-Japan demonstrations, as the row over the islands in the East China Sea, which are near potentially vast maritime gas fields, continues.

Whoever controls the island would have an exclusive economic zone of 200 nautical miles and access to the potentially rich gas reserves.

One Beijing resident said he believes Japan is fearful of deteriorating ties with China.

Meanwhile in Japan, this man said he sympathized with Tokyo's difficult position in the matter and supported the decision to deport the activsts.

However, some said the decision was too hasty.

Diplomatic experts say that while both countries would probably want to avoid any military confrontation, a serious flare-up of tensions could not be ruled out.