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Aso's remarks on Diaoyu Islands criticized

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-02-27 07:47

BEIJING -- 皇冠体育app on Thursday voiced strong dissatisfaction and lodged a stern representation to Japan over Prime Minister Taro Aso's remarks that the Diaoyu Islands are Japanese territory.

Related readings: Japan warned over Diaoyu Islands Japan told to keep away from Diaoyu Japan urged to immediately cease action on Diaoyu Islands

The Diaoyu Islands and adjacent islets had been Chinese territories since ancient times, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu said in a press release. 皇冠体育app held "indisputable" sovereignty over the islands.

"Any words and deeds by Japan attempting to change the fact are futile,and 皇冠体育app stands firmly opposed to it," he said.

皇冠体育app and Japan disputed sovereignty of the Diaoyu Islands, and 皇冠体育app has consistently advocated that the issue should be properly resolved through negotiation, said Ma.

He urged Japan to realize the great sensitivity of the Diaoyu Islands issue and proceed according to the general interests of 皇冠体育app-Japan relations and regional stability, with discretion in word and deed.

In response to a question by the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ)Thursday morning on countermeasures should the islands be encroached upon by a third country, Aso said they were Japanese territory and the Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security between Japan and United States would certainly apply to them.