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20Jan13

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China opposes U.S. comments about Diaoyu Islands: spokesman

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China is firmly opposed to comments made by the United States about the Diaoyu Islands, Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said here Sunday.

Qin was answering media questions relating to comments U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton made on Friday.

Qin said, "We urge the U.S. side to adopt a responsible attitude in regard to the issue of the Diaoyu Islands. It should be careful with its words, and act and maintain regional peace, stability and the general situation of China-U.S. relations with practical actions and build credit with the Chinese people."

At a joint news conference with Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida in Washington, Clinton said the United States does not take a position on the ultimate sovereignty of the Diaoyu Islands.

However, she admitted that the Diaoyu Islands was under the administrative authority of Japan, saying the United States opposes any unilateral actions to undermine Japanese authority over the islands.

"The comments by the U.S. side are ignorant of facts and indiscriminate of rights and wrongs," Qin said.

The United States cannot deny its historical responsibility on the issue of the Diaoyu Islands, Qin said, referring to the fact that despite opposition from China, the United States put the islands under the control of Japan after the World War II.

Qin said the Diaoyu Island and its affiliated islets have been the inherent territories of China, which is an undeniable fact backed up by historical records and international laws.

Qin said the primary source of persistent tension over the Diaoyu Islands lies with the Japanese government. He said Japan insisted on carrying out the wrongful action of purchasing some of the islands and continued to adopt escalating moves.

"This is yet another fact that cannot be covered up by any people," Qin said.

[Source: Xinhua, Beijing, 20Jan13]

East China Sea Conflict

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