An overseas Chinese group in the U.S. city of Houston on Wednesday presented a written protest to the Japanese Consulate General over the Diaoyu Islands, condemning Tokyo's quest over the islets.

In a letter to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who will kick off a visit to the United States on Thursday, China's Peaceful Development Alliance-Houston reiterated China's sovereignty over the Diaoyu Islands.

It urged the Japanese government to value the friendship between China and Japan and cease activities detrimental to the two countries' relations.

"On the occasion of the Japanese prime minister's planned visit to the United States, we, on behalf of Chinese and overseas Chinese students in the greater Houston area, express our strongest protest against the Japanese government's attempt to seize China's Diaoyu Islands," the letter said.

Both historically and geographically, the Diaoyu Islands have been an inherent territory of China, it added.

A series of actions by the Japanese government, including the so-called "purchase" of the Diaoyu Islands, show that Japan has not abandoned its militarism and is going farther on a dangerous path, the letter said.

"Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is going to visit the United States. We want to use this occasion to express our determination to defend our Diaoyu Islands," said William Q Hua, president of China's Peaceful Development Alliance-Houston.

"The Diaoyu Islands are an integral part of China," he said.

Qiao Fengxiang, secretary-general of the group, urged the Japanese government to cherish the friendship between the two countries, cease its provocative actions over the islands, and stop the right-wing tendency in Japan.

"China and the Chinese people love peace," said Xiong Weijun, vice president of the group.

"Through this letter, we also want to make it clear to the U.S. government that we hope the Japanese prime minister's visit to the U.S. is for peace, not for trouble-making," he added.

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