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January 22, 2013

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Rebuke for Clinton over Diaoyu

China rebuked US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton yesterday for her public backing of Japan's "administration" over China's Diaoyu Islands in the East China Sea.

Clinton, speaking after meeting Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida, repeated the long-standing US position that Washington acknowledged the islands were under Japan's "administration."

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said Clinton's remarks were a distortion of the facts.

"The relevant comments by the US side neglect the facts and confuse right with wrong. China is extremely dissatisfied and resolutely opposed to this," he told reporters.

"We urge the US side to take a responsible attitude toward dealing with the Diaoyu Islands, be cautious in what they say and do and take concrete steps to maintain regional stability and the overall picture of Sino-US ties to gain the trust of the Chinese people."

Hong said nobody could change the reality that the islands belonged to China, though he insisted Beijing was committed to talks in resolving the issue.

"The source of the extreme tension over the Diaoyu Islands is because of Japan's illegal purchase and its series of actions which have escalated the situation. Nobody can conceal this," Hong said.

Clinton, who is due to step down in coming weeks, said the United States does not take a position on the ultimate sovereignty of the islands, but opposes any unilateral actions that would seek to undermine "Japanese administration."

Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said the Chinese remarks were "extremely regrettable."

"The comment by Secretary Clinton is a reflection of the United States' strong commitment to the Japan-US security treaty. The Japanese government regards it highly and welcomes it," Suga said.



 

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