In a meeting with Chinese top political adviser Jia Qinglin on Wednesday, Hatoyama reportedly said that negotiations should be held over what he termed the disputed Diaoyu Islands and the two countries should negotiate. This stance runs counter to the administration of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga on Thursday blasted Hatoyama's remarks as running against Tokyo's official stance and said the government regrets that someone who was once prime minister made the remarks.

"The resolute response of Suga, Tokyo's top spokesman, to Hatoyama's remarks have shown that even the voice of the former prime minister cannot reshape Tokyo's hard-line position," said Lu Yaodong, director of the department of Japanese diplomacy at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

In another development, Natsuo Yamaguchi, the New Komeito Party leader, said Thursday that he will pay a four-day visit to China from Tuesday.

Yamaguchi said his party had a responsibility to try to restore Japan-China relations, Japan's leading news agency Kyodo News said.

The pacifistic New Komeito Party is part of Japan's coalition government.

Yamaguchi said he would consult with Abe on whether he would carry a letter or deliver a message from the prime minister to China.

Lu, from the academy, said it would be wrong to place too many hopes on Yamaguchi's trip to Beijing.

Zang, from Fudan University, said: "Abe has cornered himself and will lose a lot of right-wing support if he tries to get out of the corner."

Abe arrived in Thailand on Thursday, the second leg of a three-nation tour.

When interviewed by Thai media before his arrival, Abe reiterated Tokyo's unchanged position on the islands but he also vowed to boost communication with Beijing.

Abe may be trying to build regional support but few countries want to be involved, said Liang Yunxiang, a professor of Japanese studies at Peking University.

Contact the writers at zhangyunbi@chinadaily.com.cn