Japan told to stop Diaoyu Islands provocation

BEIJING - Japan should immediately stop all of its provocative actions over the Diaoyu Islands, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman told a regular press briefing Thursday.

Hong Lei was commenting on an Internet video clip posted on the Japanese Foreign Ministry's website. The clip promoted the Diaoyu Islands as Japanese territory.

It is another provocative action and China has expressed its firm opposition, Hong said.

He reiterated that no publicity could change the fact that the Diaoyu Islands belong to China. Hong said Japan should face up to historical facts and reality, and that it should address these disputes through dialogue and consultation.

According to the news reports, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is looking for support from the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) on maritime and air safety. In response, Hong said China urged parties concerned to avoid jeopardizing a third party's interests with their diplomatic efforts.

Responding to a reporter's question on Japanese government's adjusting its medium-term defense guidelines, and that it may increase its military expenditure, using as an excuse China's frequent activities near the Diaoyu Island, Hong said China adheres to the path of peaceful development and adopts defensive defense policies. "China's normal growth of national defense capacity does not pose a threat to any country."

"China is resolute in defending national sovereignty and territorial integrity. It will never allow any country to infringe upon China's territorial sovereignty," Hong said.

The spokesman refuted Japan's groundless charge of China's maritime and air activities, saying "Japan has hidden political agendas in hyping up the so-called China threat," referring to it as Japan's excuse for revising pacifist constitution and military expansion.

He urged Japan to stop with the unreasonable accusations and take a peaceful development path to maintain regional peace and stability.