China, Japan hold consultations on Diaoyu Islands

BEIJING - Consultations regarding the Diaoyu Islands were held by Chinese Vice-Foreign Minister Zhang Zhijun and Japanese Vice-Foreign Minister Chikao Kawai in Beijing on Tuesday.

The two sides had a candid and in-depth exchange of views during the consultations, according to a statement released by China's Foreign Ministry after their meeting.

Zhang Zhijun pointed out that Diaoyu Dao and its affiliated islands have been China's sacred territory since ancient times, as historical and legal evidences have shown, said the statement.

The Japanese side, however, has disregarded the repeated and stern representations made by the Chinese side, denied the important understanding and consensus reached between the older generation of leaders of the two countries, and openly took the illegal actions of "nationalizing" Diaoyu Dao in defiance of historical and legal evidences, Zhang was quoted as saying by the statement.

"These acts constitute a gross violation of China' s territory. They are highly offensive to the 1.3 billion Chinese people, and gravely trample on historical facts and international law. It is an outright denial of the outcomes of the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War and poses a grave challenge to the post-war international order. Historical verdict can never be overturned; consensus must not be rejected; and flouting people's aspiration will not be tolerated," Zhang said.

The Chinese side will absolutely not tolerate any unilateral action taken by the Japanese side that infringes on China's territorial sovereignty. The Japanese side must abandon any illusion, face up to its erroneous actions and correct them with credible steps. It should recommit itself to the consensus and understanding reached between the leaders of the two countries and meet China half way so as to bring China-Japan relations back onto the right track of sound and stable growth at an early date, Zhang said.

The statement said the two sides agreed to maintain consultations on the issue of Diaoyu Dao Islands.

Special: Diaoyu Islands belong to China