China reiterates Diaoyu Islands belong to China

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao has reiterated that the Diaoyu Islands and adjacent islets have belonged to China since ancient times. He made the remarks in response to reports that some Japanese textbooks claim the islands belong to Japan.

Liu Jianchao, Spokesman of Chinese Foreign Ministry said "China holds indisputable sovereignty over the Diaoyu islands. The Japanese side should admit the fact that there are disputes between China and Japan over the issue. We hope to work with Japan to settle the issue through negotiations."

Liu Jianchao also says the Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi will arrive in Singapore next Tuesday. He will attend the foreign ministers' meeting between China and the ASEAN and the meeting between ASEAN plus China, Japan and South Korea. After Singapore, Yang will then pay an official visit to Tajikistan. He will also travel to the US for a working visit, as a guest of the US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.