China's resolve to safeguard sovereignty will never change

In its longstanding row with Japan over the Diaoyu Islands, China has reiterated its firm will to safeguard sovereignty, and no one should have any doubt about its determination.

The latest round of such affirmation came on Tuesday, when the State Council, China's cabinet, released a white paper stating that "China's will to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity is firm and its resolve to uphold the outcomes of the World Anti-Fascist War will not be shaken by any force."

The message was conveyed yet again on the same day by Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi during a meeting with his Japanese counterpart on the sidelines of the 67th session of the United Nations General Assembly.

"The Chinese side will by no means tolerate any unilateral actions by Japan on the Diaoyu Islands. China will continue to take firm measures to safeguard its territorial integrity and sovereignty," Yang told Koichiro Gemba.

The reaffirmed stance on the islands, although made crystal-clear much earlier, will exert fresh pressure on Japanese decision makers who may have pinned hope on pushing China to back off via their strong-willed moves -- "purchasing," landing and lobbying.

The first two tricks have been proved ineffective already, and the prospects for the third one also look dim.

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda is scheduled to give a speech at the UN General Assembly on Wednesday, in which he is expected to push for what he will call the principle of rule of law in tackling territorial issues.

Noda's attempt to garner international support, no matter how well played, cannot change the status of the Diaoyu Islands because it is now recognized by China as "an inherent territory," as stated in Tuesday's white paper, implying that it will not allow any other country to intervene in resolving issues related to the Diaoyu Islands.

In fact, if the Japanese government had not announced the "purchase" of the islands in the first place, the two sides would still have had chances to work out solutions following a guideline proposed by late Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping and described as "laying aside differences and engaging in joint exploitation."

But due to the "purchase" drama, a strong sentiment is now shared by the Chinese government and people that a rising and militarily more powerful China should not tread the old path of being bullied and stripped of territories by other countries, notably Japan.

As an ancient Chinese saying goes, "It is up to the one who tied the knot to untie it." Since China was not the one who started the spat, it is reasonable to conclude that it would be willing to put it to a proper end should Japan make good-will concessions.