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Japan, the champions in 2006, were comfortably up 5-0 by the 27th minute before China could respond.
Takanori Kamisawa scored the first two goals in the fourth and 16th minute as his teammates Tetsuya Murakami, Kensuke Takahashi (penalty) and Yusuke Komiyama added to the scoreboard.
China scored a consolation in the dying seconds with a penalty from Liang Shuang.
Also in Group D are Turkmenistan and Iraq. The Japanese will be hoping to continue their winning form against Iraq on Monday, while China face Turkmenistan.