Japanese Uichiro Niwa confirms Shinichi Nishimiya , 60 , died on Sunday . The newly appointed Japanese ambassador to China has died after taking ill and collapsing in Tokyo late last week . Nishimiya was due to replace the current Japanese envoy in China -- Foreign Ministry . His death comes amid worsening relations between Beijing and Japan . Both countries claim sovereignty over a group of islands in the East China Sea .
Japanese Uichiro Niwa confirms Shinichi Nishimiya , 60 , died on Sunday . Nishimiya was due to replace the current Japanese envoy in China -- Foreign Ministry . His death comes amid worsening relations between Beijing and Japan . Both countries claim sovereignty over a group of islands in the East China Sea .