China Affirms Diaoyu Island Sovereignty, Urges Japan to Learn from History

Diaoyu Island and its affiliated islands are an inherent part of China's territory. This fact cannot be altered by any statement or action taken by the United States or Japan. This was the message delivered by a spokesperson for China's Ministry of National Defense during a recent online briefing.

The spokesperson, Zhang Xiaogang, made these remarks in response to the US confirmation that Article 5 of the US-Japan Security Treaty applies to Diaoyu Island. This confirmation came during a recent call between the Japanese Defense Minister and the US Secretary of Defense.

Zhang emphasized that any actions or statements by the US and Japan cannot shake China's resolve and determination to safeguard its national sovereignty and territorial integrity. He also stressed that the US-Japan Security Treaty is a product of the Cold War and that US-Japan military and security cooperation should neither target third-party countries nor harm regional development.

As this year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory in the World Anti-Fascist War, the spokesperson expressed hope that Japan will learn from history and demonstrate its commitment to peaceful development through concrete actions. He urged Japan to do more to enhance mutual trust between countries and promote regional peace and stability.