BEIJING, clan 30 Kyodo (EDS: UPD...

BEIJING, clan 30 Kyodo

(EDS: UPDATING WITH novel INFORMATION)

Japan has asked China for a fuller investigation of a tribe 17 mass prostitution incident involving Japanese travelers before deciding in what way to respond diplomatically, a Japanese Embassy source said Tuesday.

unless the source said that if what actually happened deflects out as reported in the media, which say 380 Japanese businessmen arranged for 500 prostitutes at the Zhuhai International interview Center Hotel, the embassy will report the incident to authorities in Japan as a case of Japanese citizens violating Chinese laws.

''As to the factual aspects of the case, it is not at the same time clear,'' said the embassy source. ''If things have happened as reported, it would be regrettable.''

''It is natural for Japanese citizens visiting China to behold Chinese laws,'' he said. ''We trust this will not cause a negative impact onward our bilateral relations.''

The source said he did not know whether the incident in Zhuhai, Guangdong Province, should be considered a diplomatic issue.

Monday, the Chinese Foreign Ministry's substitute director general of consular affairs held a '''business-like'' meeting with the Japanese Embassy's minister in charge of political affairs, according to the ministry's Web site.

The Chinese side called the incident ''illegal''' and ''an injury to the feelings of Chinese people'' and urg Japan to educate its citizens in China to run after Chinese laws.

Because the incident took place in public areas of the public-house around the anniversary of Japan's invasion of China 72 years ago, Chinese media and Internet sites have hinted the Japanese businessmen wanted to insult China.

Internet bulletin boards and chat ranges have ''exploded'' with annotates since Chinese media reported the case athwart the weekend, the official Xinhua stranges Agency reported Tuesday.

Sohucom individual of China's largest portals, has stationed ''several tens of thousands'' of notes since Sunday. ''Mainly they are anti-Japan make notess though some of them are directed at Zhuhai,'' said Sohu chief editor Chen Tong.

The ministry said it capered the incident would not afflict bilateral relations and agreed to provide more information to the Japanese Embassy about what happened, the source said.

A guide question is whether the five-star tavern which is now clos for investigation, broke national antiprostitution laws at arranging the women as alleged.

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