China urges negotiation in Diaoyu Islands dispute

China is calling on Japan to return to the negotiating table. This comes after a recent report that indicates that Japan is looking at improving ties that have been soured by the dispute over the Diaoyu Islands.

Hong Lei, spokesman of Chinese Foreign Ministry, said, "The important thing is that Japan should face the reality of the seriously affected China-Japan relations, acknowledge the Diaoyu Islands dispute, correct its mistakes of infringing on China's territorial sovereignty and come back to a solution to the issue through negotiation."

Kyoto News has recently reported that Japan is considering plans to calm tensions by acknowledging Chinese claims to the Diaoyu Islands while maintaining its position that no official territorial dispute exists over the islands. The report says the plans would allow Japan to compromise a little with China. Hong Lei stressed that China's stance on the Diaoyu Islands has been consistent and clear.