Rebuke for Clinton over Diaoyu
Source: Agencies |
January 22, 2013, Tuesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
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.
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.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
