Sources: Japan seeking dumpling admission

TOKYO, Nov. 1 (UPI) -- Japanese Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada wants the Chinese government to admit that poison was added to dumplings exported to Japan, diplomatic sources said.

Unidentified diplomatic sources said Okada made the demand regarding the dumplings, known as gyoza, during a Sept. 28 meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi in Shanghai, Kyodo News reported Sunday.

The source said Okada insisted during the meeting that the dumplings, blamed for 10 illnesses in Japan nearly two years ago, were poisoned in China.

Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao also discussed the dumplings and the ensuing investigation into the food illnesses at an Oct. 10 summit in Beijing.

The Beijing summit ended with both Asian officials agreeing to hold regular ministerial meetings on food safety, Kyodo News said.

The sources said the Chinese government had yet to respond to Okada's request for an official admission regarding the dumplings.