Scholars defend China's sovereignty over Diaoyu Islands

More than 50 Chinese scholars from the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan and abroad gathered in Shanghai on Wednesday to discuss a recent dispute over the Diaoyu Islands in the South China Sea.

The seminar was organized by the Shanghai Institute for International Studies, Fangxia Cultural Exchange Association and National Society of Taiwan Studies.

Scholars discussed historical and legal evidence for China's sovereignty over the islands, the impact of Japan's "purchase" of part of the islands and methods for Chinese to protect their country's right to the islands, as well as trends in the dispute's development and its impact on Sino-Japan relations.

Japan's "purchase" has infringed on China's sovereignty, the scholars said, adding that Japan's move will not change the fact that the Diaoyu Islands are part of China's inherent territory.

The scholars urged the Japanese government to refrain from infringing on China's sovereignty and called on it to take corrective action to avoid jeopardizing bilateral relations.