(Reuters) - Japan brushed off stern warnings by China on Tuesday and bought a group of islands that both sides claim in a growing dispute that threatens to deepen strains between Asia's two biggest economies.
A territorial dispute between China and Japan has intensified with Beijing sending patrol ships near disputed East China Sea islands in a show of anger over Tokyo's purchase of the largely barren outcroppings from their private owners.
The arrival on Tuesday of the two patrol ships of the China Marine Surveillance off the islands was meant to assert China's claims, said the Chinese government's official news agency, Xinhua.
The marine agency is a paramilitary force whose ships are often lightly armed, and Xinhua said it had drawn up a plan to safeguard China's sovereignty of the islands.
BEIJING, Sept. 11 (Xinhua) -- The armed forces of China are completely opposed to the Japanese government's move to "purchase" the Diaoyu Island and two of its adjacent islands, Chinese Defense Ministry Spokesman Geng Yansheng said Tuesday.
Xinhua said two marine surveillance ships had reached the waters near the islands to "assert the country's sovereignty" (AFP/JIJI PRESS/File, Jiji Press)
Geng issued a statement on the Japanese government's implementation of so-called "nationalization" of the Diaoyu Islands.
Despite strong opposition from the Chinese side, the Japanese government blatantly announced on Sept. 10 to "purchase" the Diaoyu Island and its affiliated Nan Xiaodao and Bei Xiaodao. This act is a severe infringment of Chinese territorial sovereignty, Geng said.
Geng said the Diaoyu Island and its affiliated islands are China's inherent territory. China has sufficient historical and jurisprudential evidence surrounding this.
Geng said the Japanese government's action and the so-called "island purchase" was totally illegal and invalid.
In the statement, Geng said since the start of the year, the Japanese government has endorsed right wing forces to clamor for the "island purchase" and even move in to "purchasing the islands" by itself. He said this severely harmed the general situation of the development in China-Japan relations.
Geng said in recent years, Japan has expanded armament under various excuses, frequently incurred tension in regional situations and repeatedly stirred up troubles on the issue of the Diaoyu islands. Such moves are worthy of high vigilance by its Asian neighbors and the international community.
"The Chinese government and armed forces stand firm and are unshakeable in its determination and will safeguard sovereignty over the nation's territories," Geng said.
"We are watching closely the evolution of the situation and reserve the right to take reciprocal measures," Geng said.
Related:
Japan's buying Diaoyu Islands provokes China to strike back
A territorial dispute between China and Japan has intensified with Beijing sending patrol ships near disputed East China Sea islands in a show of anger over Tokyo's purchase of the largely barren outcroppings from their private owners.
The arrival on Tuesday of the two patrol ships of the China Marine Surveillance off the islands was meant to assert China's claims, said the Chinese government's official news agency, Xinhua.
The marine agency is a paramilitary force whose ships are often lightly armed, and Xinhua said it had drawn up a plan to safeguard China's sovereignty of the islands.
BEIJING, Sept. 11 (Xinhua) -- The armed forces of China are completely opposed to the Japanese government's move to "purchase" the Diaoyu Island and two of its adjacent islands, Chinese Defense Ministry Spokesman Geng Yansheng said Tuesday.
Xinhua said two marine surveillance ships had reached the waters near the islands to "assert the country's sovereignty" (AFP/JIJI PRESS/File, Jiji Press)
Geng issued a statement on the Japanese government's implementation of so-called "nationalization" of the Diaoyu Islands.
Despite strong opposition from the Chinese side, the Japanese government blatantly announced on Sept. 10 to "purchase" the Diaoyu Island and its affiliated Nan Xiaodao and Bei Xiaodao. This act is a severe infringment of Chinese territorial sovereignty, Geng said.
Geng said the Diaoyu Island and its affiliated islands are China's inherent territory. China has sufficient historical and jurisprudential evidence surrounding this.
Geng said the Japanese government's action and the so-called "island purchase" was totally illegal and invalid.
In the statement, Geng said since the start of the year, the Japanese government has endorsed right wing forces to clamor for the "island purchase" and even move in to "purchasing the islands" by itself. He said this severely harmed the general situation of the development in China-Japan relations.
Geng said in recent years, Japan has expanded armament under various excuses, frequently incurred tension in regional situations and repeatedly stirred up troubles on the issue of the Diaoyu islands. Such moves are worthy of high vigilance by its Asian neighbors and the international community.
"The Chinese government and armed forces stand firm and are unshakeable in its determination and will safeguard sovereignty over the nation's territories," Geng said.
"We are watching closely the evolution of the situation and reserve the right to take reciprocal measures," Geng said.
Related:TOKYO, Sept. 11 (Xinhua) -- The Japanese government has exchanged the official contract on the purchase of Diaoyu Islands with Kurihara family whom the Japanese side called "the private owner", NHK reported Tuesday morning.
Japanese Cabinet on Tuesday morning decided to disburse reserve funds to purchase part of China's Diaoyu Islands, before signing a sales contract with whom the Japanese side called "the private owner" of the islands scheduled later Tuesday, it said. Full story
BEIJING, Sept. 11 (Xinhua) -- Two ships of the China Marine Surveillance (CMS) have reached the waters around the Diaoyu Islands Tuesday morning to assert the country's sovereignty.
The CMS has drafted an action plan for safeguarding the sovereignty and would take actions pending the development of the situation, the CMS sources said. Full story
VLADIVOSTOK, Russia, Sept. 9 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Hu Jintao met with Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda here on Sunday and made clear China's position on its relations with Japan and the Diaoyu Islands issue.
The two leaders met on the sidelines of the 20th informal economic leaders' meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum. Full story
TEHRAN, Sept. 10 (Xinhua) -- China's top legislator Wu Bangguo said here Monday that Japan's decision to "buy" the Diaoyu Islands is illegal and invalid.
Wu, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, briefed Iranian parliament speaker Ali Larijani on the latest development concerning the Diaoyu Islands. Full story
BEIJING, Sept. 10 (Xinhua) -- Premier Wen Jiabao said Monday the Diaoyu Islands are an inalienable part of China's territory and China will "absolutely make no concession" on issues concerning its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Despite repeated solemn representations of China, the Japanese government announced Monday it would "purchase" part of China's Diaoyu Islands from "private Japanese owners" and bring the islands under "state control." Full story
BEIJING, Sept. 10 (Xinhua) -- Following is the full text of the Statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China issued on Monday.
Statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China
10 September 2012
Regardless of repeated strong representations of the Chinese side, the Japanese government announced on 10 September 2012 the "purchase" of the Diaoyu Island and its affiliated Nan Xiaodao and Bei Xiaodao and the implementation of the so-called nationalization" of the islands. This constitutes a gross violation of China's sovereignty over its own territory and is highly offensive to the 1.3 billion Chinese people. It seriously tramples on historical facts and international jurisprudence. The Chinese government and people express firm opposition to and strong protest against the Japanese move. Full story
Related post:Japan's buying Diaoyu Islands provokes China to strike back
