A group of Japanese mountaineers, who climbed the Yala Mountain in Garze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province, without the approval of Chinese authority concerned, were ordered to stop their climbing activities. In addition, the Japanese climbers were fined 5,000 yuan, the Chengdu Commercial News reported.

On August 7, a local villager living in Yala Mountain in Ganzi Prefecture in Sichuan, noticed that some Japanese were climbing the mountain. The news was soon reported to Gao Min, deputy secretary-general of the Sichuan Provincial Sports Bureau

Mountain Climbing Association. He arrived on the scene to investigate the issue. At that time, the Japanese climbers had already reached their camp site at 4,000 meters above sea level. It was found that the five Japanese climbers, four men and one woman, had not gone through any legal procedures for their climbing activities. The Japanese climbers admitted their irregularities and apologized for their activity. They also said they were willing to accept Chinese side's punishment.

According to related Chinese regulations, foreigners who want to climb Chinese mountains should do so under the guidance of a Chinese liaison officer appointed by related Chinese administrative department. Before climbing, foreigners should gain approval from the Chinese authority concerned for their climbing activities and their climbing activities should be followed and supervised by the Chinese liaison officer, an official at the Sichuan Provincial Mountaineering Association told this reporter.