Defense authorities of Japan and China have worked out a maritime communications mechanism to avoid ship collisions and other accidents in the East China Sea, including the waters around the disputed Senkaku Islands, which Beijing calls Diaoyutai. Sources familiar with Japan-China relations said on Friday that both sides have informally agreed to set up a hotline to give notice of the routes that warships and aircrafts from both countries as well as their radio frequencies. Officials from both countries hope to sign a formal agreement before the end of the year and put the mechanism in force as early as possible. The mechanism is intended to prevent collisions and other accidents involving Japanese and Chinese warships and warplanes from developing into a military conflict.