China warns Japan over disputed islands

China’s Foreign Ministry has warned about infringement of its sovereignty by Japan with regards to a disputed group of Islands in the East China Sea.

“The Diaoyu islands and its affiliated islets have been China’s inherent territory. Patrols conducted by Chinese planes and ships in waters off the islands represent normal administrative activities for the purpose of exercising jurisdiction,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei told reporters on Wednesday.

Lei made the remarks following reports indicating that Japan had allegedly fired warning shots at Chinese planes, which were patrolling the disputed islands.

Japan and China have long been in a dispute over the sovereignty of a group of islands in the East China Sea, which would give the owner exclusive oil, mineral and fishing rights in the surrounding waters.

The disputed islands are known as Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China.

On December 15, China presented the United Nations with detailed assertion as to its sovereignty over the islands.

The dispute between Tokyo and Beijing over the islands reached its peak in mid-September after Japan announced that it planned to buy the islands from their Japanese private owners.

Hundreds of Chinese held anti-Japan demonstrations following the announcement. Chinese ships have also since been sailing around the islands, eliciting angry reaction from Japan.