Japan and China on Saturday quietly marked the 45th anniversary of the signing of a bilateral treaty of peace and friendship, with no official celebratory events amid tensions over Tokyo's plan to release treated radioactive water from the Fukushima nuclear plant into the sea.
Bilateral relations have been strained over the planned start of Fukushima water discharge, which may begin as soon as later this month, as well as former Prime Minister Taro Aso's recent visit to Taiwan, along with territorial and trade disputes.
The friendship treaty was signed in 1978, six years after the two countries normalized diplomatic ties, and took effect on Oct. 23 that year.