銆€銆€Japan's incoming Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will send a special envoy to China, media reports said, amid tension over the Diaoyu Islands.

銆€銆€Japan's incoming Prime Minister Shinzo Abe meets the press on Dec. 17, 2012.

銆€銆€China blasted controversial provisions on Sunday in a defense bill passed by the US Senate, which acknowledges "the administration of Japan" over the islands and urges arms sales to Taiwan.

銆€銆€Observers said that Abe's gesture does not mean any concessions on the islands are in the offing.

銆€銆€The bill passed in the US Senate, they added, will fuel regional instability and damage trust-building efforts between China and the US.

銆€銆€Abe, leader of Japan's Liberal Democratic Party will become prime minister on Dec 26.

銆€銆€He is considering sending LDP Vice-President Masahiko Komura, head of the Japan-China Friendship Parliamentarians' Union, to China.

銆€銆€"Abe's envoy plan is simply posturing, rather than an act of sincerity,'' said Lu Yaodong, from the Institute of Japanese Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

銆€銆€Ties were soured in September after the Japanese government illegally "purchased" part of the Diaoyu Islands.

銆€銆€Abe declared on Saturday that he would postpone his campaign proposal of sending government personnel to the islands, Japan's Kyodo News Agency said.

銆€銆€The Japanese Air Self-Defense Force sent fighter jets on Saturday to an area some 100 kilometers north of the Diaoyu Islands after a plane of China's State Oceanic Administration was spotted patrolling, according to the Japanese Defense Ministry.

銆€銆€On Friday, Chinese marine surveillance vessels patrolling the waters around the islands found six Japanese coast guard ships illegally entering the area, and demanded they leave at once.