China slams Japan’s Diaoyu claim  

中国驻日使馆回应日本外相涉钓鱼岛言论

The Chinese Embassy in Japan has strongly denounced a statement made by Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida who said on Tuesday that there is no territorial dispute over the "Japan-controlled" islets in East China Sea, and that Tokyo's position remains unchanged.

"We are seriously concerned [about the Kishida's statement] and strongly dissatisfied with it," said the spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Tokyo on Wednesday. The spokesperson said that the Diaoyu Islands is China's territory and the four-point agreement reached between China and Japan on November 7 is clear.

Asked if the Japanese government's position remains unchanged that a territorial row does not exist over the Diaoyu Islands, Kishida said at a press conference on Tuesday, "Certainly."

China and Japan earlier reached a four-point agreement to improve bilateral ties, agreeing to resume dialogues while acknowledging different positions on the Diaoyu Islands.

"We urge the Japanese side to face up to history and keep its promise and to move in accordance with the spirit of the agreement together with China," the spokesperson said. "Japan should watch its words and actions over the Diaoyu Islands and stop any behavior that would damage the sovereignty of Chinese territory." The Japanese side's ignorance on China's stand on the Diaoyu Islands and its provocative actions are the root of current tensions on the islands, the spokesperson said. Kishida also said that "tensions remain over issues like China's Air Defense Identification Zone set up in November 2013 covering the East China Sea.

China's determination to defend its sovereignty over its own territory will not be changed and China will make efforts to resolve the Diaoyu Islands dispute through talks and negotiations, said the spokesperson. Kishida and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi agreed on November 8 in Beijing to boost bilateral cooperation by working toward the early resumption of "various" high-level talks.