The news follows reports by Tokyo's Sankei Shimbun that Japanese fighter jets intercepted a Chinese military reconnaissance aircraft and two fighter jets near airspace over the islands on Saturday night.

BBC: China media: North Korea nuclear test

The Chinese have long angled for a visit by Mr Rumsfeld, hoping that this would symbolise America's willingness to put aside the fracas that broke out between them in April 2001 when a reckless Chinese fighter bumped into an American reconnaissance plane, forcing it to make an emergency landing in China.

ECONOMIST: Up to a point

Following April's midair collision of a Navy EP-3E reconnaissance aircraft and a Chinese F-8 fighter jet, the outlook had been gray.

FORBES: Commentary: On Events at Home and Abroad