China warns against provocative action by Japan on Diaoyu Islands

BEIJING - China on Monday warned against any provocative action and escalation by Japan on the Diaoyu Islands issue in response to a reported plan by Japan to claim the islands in a guideline for creating school textbooks.

"If the Japanese side takes steps of provocation and escalation on the Diaoyu Islands issue, China will surely stand up to them, and Japan must bear all the ensuing consequences," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told a daily press briefing.

"No matter how hard the Japanese side attempts to promote its wrong positions, it cannot change the fact that the Diaoyu Islands are China's inherent territory," said Hua.

The nature of Japan's wrong stance and actions boil down to Japan's attempt to deny the outcome of the world anti-fascist war, and to deny and challenge the post-war international order, as well as the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, she said.

She said history can never be forgotten. "The more some Japanese want to deny and escape history, the harder it is for them to hide from history's judgement."

"We again urge Japan to face history, and correct the wrongdoing through concrete steps," she said.

China-Japan relations have been facing severe difficulties since the Japanese government announced in September 2012 its plan to "purchase" part of the Diaoyu Islands, which have been Chinese territory since ancient times.

Reports said that Japan plans to amend a teaching manual, which serves as a guideline for creating textbooks used in middle and high schools. The amendments include the claiming of the Diaoyu Islands.