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September 11, 2012

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Chinese anger at Japan's Diaoyu Islands 'purchase'

Premier Wen Jiabao has reaffirmed that the Diaoyu Islands are an inalienable part of China's territory and that the country would "absolutely make no concession" on issues concerning its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Despite repeated representations by China, Japan announced yesterday it would "purchase" part of China's Diaoyu Islands from so-called "private Japanese owners" and bring the islands under "state control."

"The Diaoyu Islands are an inalienable part of China's territory, and the Chinese government and its people will absolutely make no concession on issues concerning its sovereignty and territorial integrity," Wen said while addressing an inauguration ceremony for a statue of late Chinese leaders Zhou Enlai and Chen Yi at the China Foreign Affairs University in Beijing.

"The Chinese government and its people cherish their country's hard-won national sovereignty and dignity more than anybody," Wen said.

Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi urgently summoned Japanese Ambassador to China Uichiro Niwa yesterday for a meeting to lodge solemn representations and strong protests against the Japanese government's illegal "buying" of the islands.

Yang said the so-called "purchase" and other unilateral actions were illegal and invalid.

The Japanese actions could not change the historical facts of Japan's occupation of Chinese territory, as well as China's territorial sovereignty over the islands, Yang said.

China is urging Japan to immediately revoke its decision and stop all actions that undermine China's territorial sovereignty. Otherwise, all consequences should be borne by the Japanese side, Yang said.

Japan aims to "nationalize" the islands as soon as possible to control them in a "peaceful and stable" manner, Chief Cabinet Secretary Osamu Fujimura said yesterday. Fujimura did not disclose the purchase price, but Japanese media said last week the government was set to pay 2.05 billion yen (US$26.26 million).

The Cabinet, led by Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda, is expected to approve the decision today.

On Sunday, President Hu Jintao warned Japan about any purchase. "It is illegal and invalid for Japan to buy the islands via any means. China firmly opposes it," Hu told Noda on the sidelines of an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Vladivostok.

"Japan must realize the severity of the situation and not make a wrong decision," Hu said.





 

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