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China Still Firm in Protecting East China Sea Territory

| Jan 13, 2016 06:53 AM EST

“China’s stance on the Diaoyu Islands is consistent and clear,” said Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hong Lei at a press briefing.

In a statement released by the Foreign Ministry on Tuesday, Jan. 12, China reiterated its full commitment to protect its territory, according to a report by China Daily.

The statement came as a reaction to Japan's warnings, saying that the island nation will send out naval patrols to ward Chinese naval vessels off the coast of Diaoyu Islands.

"China's stance on the Diaoyu Islands is consistent and clear," said Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hong Lei at a press briefing. "At the same time we do not want to see tensions escalate in the East China Sea and are willing to properly manage, control and settle the problems through dialogue and consultation."

Hong further stated that Diaoyu Islands have long been a part of Chinese territory since "ancient times."

Meanwhile, Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga sent out a message to Beijing at a news conference on Tuesday, saying that any foreign naval vessel in "Japanese territorial waters" for reasons other than "innocent passage" will be driven out by Japanese naval patrol.

According to Yoshihide, China has already been informed of this move since November, when Chinese "navy ships" ventured close to the disputed islands.

China Daily reported that this vessel was in fact a part of the Chinese coastguard, but Japan has claimed the ship had gun turrets. Japan's coastguard said that it was the first time an "armed Chinese vessel" sailed in the area.

Xiang Guangmei, a military expert based in Beijing, does not accept Japan's claims.

"China is not sending warships there. Maybe Japan means that China's coastguard vessel carries guns, but Japanese ships also carry guns. That does not change the nature of the law enforcement vessels," said Xiang. He added that if Japan will send its navy to the area, China should do the same thing.

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