The Japanese government may have paid more than two billion yen (26.15 million U.S. dollars) for the so-called "purchase" of the Diaoyu Islands, but the "deal" may cost the country much more in terms of damaged economic ties with China.
The move will inevitably have a negative impact on Sino-Japan economic and trade ties, Vice Minister of Commerce Jiang Zengwei said Thursday at a news briefing.
Some Japanese enterprises have started to feel the effects already, after the Japanese government carried on its "nationalization" of the Diaoyu Islands despite strong warnings and opposition voiced from China.
"Sales of Japanese digital products have sharply decreased since last month," said a retail store manager surnamed Lu who works in the Zhongguancun electronics market in Beijing, adding that fewer customers have shown interest in Japanese products as tensions between China and Japan have increased.
"Sales were not that sluggish even in Sept. 2010, when Japanese patrol ships collided with Chinese fishing boats around the Diaoyu Islands," Lu said.
