Newly-appointed Japanese ambassador to China dies

Newly-appointed Japanese Ambassador to China Shinichi Nishimiya died Sunday morning in a hospital in Tokyo, Kyodo reported.

Nishimiya, 60, fell unconscious on a street in Tokyo three days ago on Thursday morning. Police said the sudden faint was caused by illness.

The cause of his death has yet to be known, according to Kyodo news.

Nishimiya's appointment had just been approved by the government on Tuesday to replace current Japanese Ambassador to China Uichiro Niwa, at a time when the two countries are embroiled in a dispute over a group of islands in the East China Sea, local media reported.

As deputy foreign minister in charge of economic affairs, Nishimiya had until recently been making arrangements with other countries in relation to the just-concluded summit of the Asia- Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in Vladivostok, Russia, said local media.

A newly appointed ambassador usually begins work in the designated country within 40 days of the appointment after being briefed by his or her predecessor in Japan, according to the Japanese foreign ministry.