Soccer-Japan plan dumpling-diplomacy to help China relations

TOKYO, Feb 10 (Reuters) - Japan's footballers will be doing their bit for their country's often-strained relations with China by ordering dumplings at this month's East Asian Championships.

Dumplings imported from China contaminated with pesticide triggered a recent food scare in Japan and has become an emotive issue in already sensitive Sino-Japanese diplomacy.

But Japan's soccer chief wants his players to act as ambassadors for the country when they play at the Feb. 17-23 tournament in Chinese city of Chongqing.

"I want them to help improve relations between Japan and China," Japan Football Association president Saburo Kawabuchi told reporters.

"At the welcome party, I'll be asking them to eat the dumplings." (Writing by Alastair Himmer; Editing by John O'Brien)