TOKYO —
Japan will nationalize a group of islands at the center of a territorial row with China...
The decision to purchase the islands, which will be formally owned by Japan’s Coast Guard, was aimed at their “quiet and stable maintenance”.
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao however insisted the islands were “an inherent part of China’s territory.”
“On issues concerning sovereignty and territory, the Chinese government and people will never ever yield an inch,”
China has previously reacted with muted irritation since reports emerged that the Japanese government was going to buy the chain from their private landowners.
In Beijing, the foreign ministry reiterated China’s claims over the islands, which lie around 200 kilometers from Taiwan, and 2,000 kilometers from Tokyo.
China’s Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi lodged a “strong protest” with the Japanese ambassador, calling the purchase “illegal” and “invalid”.
“This in no way will change the historic fact of Japan’s usurpation of China’s territory, nor will it shake in the least China’s territorial sovereignty over the Diaoyu Island and adjacent islands,” a statement posted on the foreign ministry website quoted Yang as saying.
“The Chinese government and people will never allow our territory or sovereignty to be violated or damaged and will resolutely safeguard sovereignty over the Diaoyu Island and adjacent island.”
“The Chinese side strongly urges the Japanese side to rescind the mistaken decision of ‘purchasing the island,’” he added.
http://www.japantoday.com/category/...cides-to-nationalize-islands-claimed-by-china
Japan will nationalize a group of islands at the center of a territorial row with China...
The decision to purchase the islands, which will be formally owned by Japan’s Coast Guard, was aimed at their “quiet and stable maintenance”.
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao however insisted the islands were “an inherent part of China’s territory.”
“On issues concerning sovereignty and territory, the Chinese government and people will never ever yield an inch,”
China has previously reacted with muted irritation since reports emerged that the Japanese government was going to buy the chain from their private landowners.
In Beijing, the foreign ministry reiterated China’s claims over the islands, which lie around 200 kilometers from Taiwan, and 2,000 kilometers from Tokyo.
China’s Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi lodged a “strong protest” with the Japanese ambassador, calling the purchase “illegal” and “invalid”.
“This in no way will change the historic fact of Japan’s usurpation of China’s territory, nor will it shake in the least China’s territorial sovereignty over the Diaoyu Island and adjacent islands,” a statement posted on the foreign ministry website quoted Yang as saying.
“The Chinese government and people will never allow our territory or sovereignty to be violated or damaged and will resolutely safeguard sovereignty over the Diaoyu Island and adjacent island.”
“The Chinese side strongly urges the Japanese side to rescind the mistaken decision of ‘purchasing the island,’” he added.
http://www.japantoday.com/category/...cides-to-nationalize-islands-claimed-by-china
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