The Public Management Ministry is strongly resisting a Justice Ministry demand to increase the number of immigration officers in a bid to better crack down on illegal aliens in Japan, according to government sources.

The clash between the two ministries apparently came to a head during a meeting of government vice ministers last Thursday.

Sources said Wednesday that Vice Justice Minister Jinen Nagase crossed swords with Kazuyoshi Endo -- vice minister in charge of home affairs at the Public Management, Home Affairs, Posts and Telecommunications Ministry -- during the session, with neither side willing to compromise.