Diaoyu Islands Defending Forum opens in Jakarta

Jakarta - The Diaoyu Islands Defending Forum organized by the Zhejiang Chamber of Commerce of Indonesia (ZCCI) and representatives of the overseas Chinese in Indonesia opened here Monday, aiming to express strong indignation over and condemnation of the illegal "purchase" of the Diaoyu Islands by the Japanese government.

The Diaoyu Island and its affiliated islets have been an inherent part of China's territory since ancient times, and the so-called "purchase" of the Diaoyu Islands by the Japanese government seriously hurts the Chinese people's feelings, said Chen Long, the general secretary of the ZCCI in the forum.

Chen added the ZCCI and the representatives of overseas Chinese in Indonesia agreed to stage a protest in front of the Japanese Embassy in Jakarta at 9:18 a.m. Tuesday, in a bid to commemorate the September 18th Incident in 1931.

On September 18, 1931, Japanese forces attacked the barracks of Chinese troops in Shenyang, marking the beginning of the Japanese invasion and occupation that lasted 14 years.

"We must be on the alert against attempts to revive the militarism in Japan," said Chen Xiangsong, the vice Chairman of ZCCI, adding that Japan's position on the issue of the Diaoyu Islands is an outright denial of the outcomes of the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War and constitutes a grave challenge to the post-war international order.

Wu Jinbin, a representative from the ZCCI, said the Japanese government's move regarding Diaoyu islands was really impudent, and caused strong indignation and anger among all overseas Chinese.

Long gone are the days when the Chinese nation was subject to bullying and humiliation from the Japanese imperialism, the Chinese government and people will by no means allow any infringement on state sovereignty and territorial integrity, Wu said.

Lai Shunxin, a representative of the overseas Chinese in Indonesia, said Japanese invaders had brought China and other Asian countries great disasters and injuries during the World War II. In the 21st century, the Japanese government is still vainly attempting to occupy China's territory without learning a lesson, this is really indignating.

Founded in 2010, the Zhejiang Chamber of Commerce of Indonesia unites over 200 members, mostly enterprises from China's Zhejiang Province engaging in business activities in Indonesia.