Wang Yi, vice-minister of foreign affairs of China, summoned
Japanese ambassador to China Koreshige Anami in Beijing Saturday
and made a formal representation to Japan about the issue of Diaoyu
Islands.
Wang Yi noted that the Diaoyu Islands and adjacent islets have been
an integral part of Chinese territory since ancient times.
"Any unilateral action on the islands by the Japanese side is
illegal and invalid, which China will not accept," Wang Yi
said.
"The Chinese government and people have the unswerving
determination to safeguard the country's territorial sovereignty,"
he added.
Wang demanded the Japanese side to correct its wrongdoings and stop
any incidents harmful to China's territorial sovereignty and the
China-Japan relationship.
After the Japanese government's action to "lease" the Diaoyu
Islands was exposed, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman stated
China's solemn stance and officials of the Asian Department of the
Chinese Foreign Ministry lodged a representation to the Japanese
Embassy in China, requiring the Japanese side to clarify the
matter.
(Xinhua News Agency January 6, 2002)