How could Japan 'buy' China-owned Diaoyu Islands?

The People's Daily, the flagship newspaper of the Communist Party of China (CPC), carried a commentary Tuesday protesting the Japanese government's so-called "purchase" of the Diaoyu Islands in the East China Sea.

The Japanese government's official decision to "buy" the Diaoyu Islands and affiliated islets is a serious violation of China's territorial sovereignty and has triggered strong protests from the Chinese government and people, said the newspaper article run under the byline of Guo Jiping.

The article presented a long list of historical facts to prove that the Diaoyu Islands were first found, named and used by the Chinese and that the Chinese government has long administered the islands.

It cited a Chinese military defense map published in 1561 that included the islands in its frontier, as well as a government history chronicle published in 1871 that identified the islands as under the administration of Taiwan.

The article elaborated on a string of historical events in the late 19th century and early 20th century, in which Japan illegally occupied the islands after the China-Japanese War in 1895 and the Chinese government resumed its sovereignty according to the Cairo Declaration in 1943 and the Potsdam Proclamation in 1945.

The article included detailed accounts of how the United States and Japan illegally decided the status of the islands in the 1950s without the participation of China, the owner of the islands.

The Chinese government has persistently and firmly argued the issue and protested the violations of the Japanese side since the 1970s, the article said.

Over the past few months, the Japanese government has made several moves related to the Diaoyu Islands issue. Following its attempts to name several islets near the Diaoyu Islands, it not only conspired in the plan to "purchase" the islands initiated by several Japanese rightists but also stepped in to "buy" the islands in name of "nationalization," the article said.

The real purpose of "nationalization" is to consolidate Japan's alleged control over the islands and pave the way for the final occupation, the article said.

"No matter how the Japanese government explains and sugar-coats the issue, the fact that it traded something owned by others will not be compromised," the article said. "Anyone with common sense will find it ridiculous, illegal and doomed to fail."

Behind the improper attempts of the Japanese government, there are some people who have refused to reflect on and look directly at the crimes committed by the Japanese military during World War II, the article said.

It defies the post-World War II order in the Asia-Pacific region set by international treaties such as the Cairo Declaration and the Potsdam Proclamation, it said.

It denies the victory of international efforts against fascism, it added.

Based on how the Japanese government has dealt with territorial disputes with neighboring countries, including China, Japan has not shown any sincere regret for past invasions and colonial rule, demonstrating, instead, a clear motive to recover its "loss and prestige" from its defeat in World War II by making trouble with its neighbors, the article said.

This year marks the 40th anniversary of China-Japan bilateral diplomatic relations. Four decades ago, leaders from the two countries, with wisdom and vision, overcame great difficulties to resume diplomatic relations, the article said.

"Today, some Japanese politicians work to shake the foundation of Sino-Japanese relations, which goes against the trend of the times and draws indignation," it said.

Current Sino-Japanese relations have been hard-earned, and healthy and stable bilateral ties are vital to both countries, it said.

"We would like to urge the Japanese government to weigh the situation and immediately stop all violations in the Diaoyu Islands," the article said. "The Chinese government and people's resolution to safeguard sovereignty is unshakable. We are determined and capable of protecting our territorial sovereignty. Any attempt from the Japanese side regarding the Diaoyu Islands will fail."