Chinese spokesman urges impartiality for U.S. newspaper on Diaoyu Islands

Email|Print|Comments       twitter     facebook     Sina Microblog     reddit    

BEIJING, Nov. 4 -- A Chinese spokesman on Monday urged the Wall Street Journal to be impartial on the Diaoyu Islands dispute after the U.S. newspaper carried an article pushing the United States to endorse Japan's claims explicitly.

The online article, dated Oct. 31, alleged that along with the tensions over the Diaoyu Islands (called the Senkaku Islands by the Japanese side), Tokyo's alliance with Washington and its ties with Southeast Asia have been strengthened.

"The more explicit the Obama Administration is that the Senkakus are Japanese, the likelier Beijing is to back down," said the article.

"We have noticed the relevant article," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said at a daily news briefing on Monday afternoon.

Hong reiterated that the Diaoyu Islands are an inherent part of the Chinese territory, and relevant documents signed at the end of the Second World War have stated that they should be returned to China.

The underhanded exchange of the Diaoyu Islands between Japan and the United States in the 1970s was illegal and invalid, and cannot change the fact that the islands belong to China, said the spokesman.

Hong said the tensions over the Diaoyu Islands were caused by the Japanese side, which has attempted to change the status quo, rather than the Chinese side.

The United States is not a party concerned in the Diaoyu Islands dispute and it should stay neutral in the dispute, he said.

"We have noticed that the U.S. government has repeatedly reiterated that it will not take sides on the sovereignty over the Diaoyu Islands," said the spokesman.

"We hope that the relevant media will hold an objective and impartial stance, and play a more constructive role in easing tensions and resolving the dispute," he added.

• Antiquated ideas source of Abe strategy
• Chinese coast guard patrols Diaoyu Islands
• China seeks end to Japan's Diaoyu provocation
• Beijing-Tokyo ties 'unlikely to recover soon'
• Comment: China should keep military pressure on Diaoyu Islands
• Chinese coast guard continues patrol around Diaoyu Islands
• Chinese coast guard continues patrol around Diaoyu Islands
• Chinese foreign minister meets Clintons on relations
• China rebukes US military drone reports
• Chinese coast guard continues patrol around Diaoyu Islands

We Recommend

• Annual airshow kicks off in Houston
• U.S. Navy Carrier Strike Group stages military exercises
• Volkswagen showcases new energy vehicles in Beijing
• How should we get married nowadays?
• Commentary:
  Stop Phubbing
• Jakie Chan sees Rubber Duck off in Beijing
• Hello! Horror Halloween Celebration!
• The catwalk to the world of fashion
  
• Cruise trip to Taiwan