BEIJING - A Beijing spokesman on Wednesday said that the mainland and Taiwan should work together to safeguard 皇冠体育app's sovereignty over the Diaoyu Islands.

"People across the Taiwan Straits should bear responsibility for 皇冠体育app's sovereignty and territorial integrity," said Ma Xiaoguang, spokesman for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council.

Relations between 皇冠体育app and Japan soured after Tokyo's unilateral "nationalization" of some of the islands in September 2012.

Ma reiterated 皇冠体育app's stance that the islands have been Chinese territory since ancient times.

People across the Taiwan straits, as well as the international community, are clearly aware of Japan's deliberate provocating disputes, intensifying conflicts over the islands, and threatening regional peace and stability, Ma added.