South China Sea Forum

[TaiShang]

Vietnam ís the first country in region claimed, controlled and owned Islands in SCS from long time ago. Pls dont telling yoke here, dream òf China to be boss ís wet-dream for ever.

As I said above, to become a lackey to the US as mentioned in the OP you shared, you needs to overthrow this:


Vietnam Communist Party chief looks to cement ties on trip to China

(Global Times) January 12, 2017

Vietnam's top leader begins an official four-day visit to China on Thursday, a move expected to cement ties between the two countries in the face of uncertainties in the Asia-Pacific region.

The trip is the first official visit by Nguyen Phu Trong to China after he was re-elected General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee in January 2016. Analysts expect the trip will revive bilateral relations swayed by island disputes in the South China Sea, at a time when the future US policy on the South China Sea is unclear following the election of Donald Trumpas president.

Although voices of the claimant countries in the South China Sea dispute have subsided, tensions have escalated in the Asia-Pacific in the past two months, which will deeply influence relations between Vietnam and China and the US and Southeast Asian nations, said Zhuang Guotu, dean of the School for Southeast Asian Studies at Xiamen University.

The two sides are likely to confront and resolve thorny issues such as the South China Sea island disputes and trade imbalance, Zhuang said. "During this trip, Trong is expected to ascertain the actual situation of China and find a way of developing bilateral relations that both sides can accept," he said.

Zhang Mingliang, a professor with the Southeast Asian Institute of Ji'nan University, described Trong's visit as "a trip to hold the bottom line," which is to secure peace with China.

"The first priority of Trong's trip is to cement the relationship with China and to clear misunderstandings," Zhang said.

The promotion of friendly relations between China and Vietnam depends primarily on high-level dialogues rather than social exchanges, he said.

Tensions over the South China Sea issue have eased in the recent months, leading to an improvement in China's relationship with countries in the region.

"The display of friendship by other ASEAN(Association of Southeast Asian Nations) countries, especially the Philippines, has an impact on Vietnam," said Gu Xiaosong, head of Southeast Asian Studies at the Guangxi Academy of Social Sciences.

"China has both land and sea borders with ASEAN countries, so it places a high value on the relations with all ASEAN countries."

Vietnam is good at dealing with big powers like China and the US, with its flexible diplomatic tactics. In the past three to five years, it has benefited from the relations with both China and the US, which is very impressive, said Zhang.

"The essence of the South China Sea issue is the confrontation between China and the US. Vietnam is attempting to create a balance between the two powers to keep its independence, and it is doing well in this regard," Zhuang told the Global Times.

"Overall, Vietnam cannot get too close to the US due to different ideologies and political systems, besides, China is a neighbor of Vietnam," he added.

Trade expansion

Trade will be high on the agenda of the visit, according to experts. China has been Vietnam's biggest trading partner for 13 consecutive years. As bilateral trade continued to expand, in 2016, Vietnam became China's biggest trading partner among ASEAN nations.

China currently enjoys a trade surplus with Vietnam, but figures show that in the past year, there was a substantial increase in Vietnam's exports to China.

In the first 11 months of 2016, Vietnam's exports to China reached $32.9 billion, with a year-on-year growth of 20.8 percent. Vietnam's trade deficit decreased by 31 percent, according to the Chinese embassy in Hanoi. ( @Viet @AViet )

China's direct investment in Vietnam also rose by a whopping 112.7 percent in 2016, leaping to fourth place among 68 countries and regions that invest in Vietnam.

"Though Vietnam complains about trade deficit with China and poor quality of Chinese products, it benefits greatly from trade with China," said Zhang.

China provides not only raw materials for Vietnam's manufacturing industry and exports to Europe and the US, but also creates a lot of jobs in Vietnam, which contributes to the social stability of the country, he said.

 

[cochine]

As I said above, to become a lackey to the US as mentioned in the OP you shared, you needs to overthrow this:


Vietnam Communist Party chief looks to cement ties on trip to China

(Global Times) January 12, 2017

Vietnam's top leader begins an official four-day visit to China on Thursday, a move expected to cement ties between the two countries in the face of uncertainties in the Asia-Pacific region.

The trip is the first official visit by Nguyen Phu Trong to China after he was re-elected General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee in January 2016. Analysts expect the trip will revive bilateral relations swayed by island disputes in the South China Sea, at a time when the future US policy on the South China Sea is unclear following the election of Donald Trumpas president.

Although voices of the claimant countries in the South China Sea dispute have subsided, tensions have escalated in the Asia-Pacific in the past two months, which will deeply influence relations between Vietnam and China and the US and Southeast Asian nations, said Zhuang Guotu, dean of the School for Southeast Asian Studies at Xiamen University.

The two sides are likely to confront and resolve thorny issues such as the South China Sea island disputes and trade imbalance, Zhuang said. "During this trip, Trong is expected to ascertain the actual situation of China and find a way of developing bilateral relations that both sides can accept," he said.

Zhang Mingliang, a professor with the Southeast Asian Institute of Ji'nan University, described Trong's visit as "a trip to hold the bottom line," which is to secure peace with China.

"The first priority of Trong's trip is to cement the relationship with China and to clear misunderstandings," Zhang said.

The promotion of friendly relations between China and Vietnam depends primarily on high-level dialogues rather than social exchanges, he said.

Tensions over the South China Sea issue have eased in the recent months, leading to an improvement in China's relationship with countries in the region.

"The display of friendship by other ASEAN(Association of Southeast Asian Nations) countries, especially the Philippines, has an impact on Vietnam," said Gu Xiaosong, head of Southeast Asian Studies at the Guangxi Academy of Social Sciences.

"China has both land and sea borders with ASEAN countries, so it places a high value on the relations with all ASEAN countries."

Vietnam is good at dealing with big powers like China and the US, with its flexible diplomatic tactics. In the past three to five years, it has benefited from the relations with both China and the US, which is very impressive, said Zhang.

"The essence of the South China Sea issue is the confrontation between China and the US. Vietnam is attempting to create a balance between the two powers to keep its independence, and it is doing well in this regard," Zhuang told the Global Times.

"Overall, Vietnam cannot get too close to the US due to different ideologies and political systems, besides, China is a neighbor of Vietnam," he added.

Trade expansion

Trade will be high on the agenda of the visit, according to experts. China has been Vietnam's biggest trading partner for 13 consecutive years. As bilateral trade continued to expand, in 2016, Vietnam became China's biggest trading partner among ASEAN nations.

China currently enjoys a trade surplus with Vietnam, but figures show that in the past year, there was a substantial increase in Vietnam's exports to China.

In the first 11 months of 2016, Vietnam's exports to China reached $32.9 billion, with a year-on-year growth of 20.8 percent. Vietnam's trade deficit decreased by 31 percent, according to the Chinese embassy in Hanoi. ( @Viet @AViet )

China's direct investment in Vietnam also rose by a whopping 112.7 percent in 2016, leaping to fourth place among 68 countries and regions that invest in Vietnam.

"Though Vietnam complains about trade deficit with China and poor quality of Chinese products, it benefits greatly from trade with China," said Zhang.

China provides not only raw materials for Vietnam's manufacturing industry and exports to Europe and the US, but also creates a lot of jobs in Vietnam, which contributes to the social stability of the country, he said.

No needed in this moment, ... let he do some testing on China. I think he does know well about mentality of CPC. When China is afraid from USA, China could be saying softly with her "comrade" (?). In fact both of you "comrades" were hatred mutual from time 1954, 1974. 1979, 1988...,

 

[TaiShang]

In fact both of you "comrades"

I knew you hated VCP.

Your kind of people might be a liability first and foremost for the very country you claim to be campaigning for. You have, on the other hand, no practical harm on China and its SCS development strategy.

 

[cochine]

I knew you hated VCP.

Your kind of people might be a liability first and foremost for the very country you claim to be campaigning for. You have, on the other hand, no practical harm on China and its SCS development strategy.

VCP fought counter all enemies, who invaded in to Viet Lands in the past, France, ÚSA and China (PRC)
.

 

[cochine]

US SEC. NOMINEE UNVEILS ‘DANGEROUS’ PLAN OVER FAKE ISLANDS IN SCS
Posted on January 12, 2017

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A potentially ‘dangerous’ confrontation with Beijing on Wednesday has been announced by U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for secretary of state, saying China should be denied access to islands it has built in the contested South China Sea.

According to The Diplomat Magazine, Trump’s Nominee Rex Tillerson’s ‘dangerous idea’ for the South China Sea was proposed during a confirmation hearing before the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

When asked if he supports a more aggressive stance toward China, he said: “We’re going to have to send China a clear signal that, first, the island-building stops and, second, your access to those islands also is not going to be allowed.”

China’s building of islands and putting military assets on those islands was “akin to Russia’s taking Crimea” from Ukraine, he added.

Meanwhile, the former Exxon Mobil Corp chairman and chief executive did not elaborate on what might be done to deny China access to the islands it has built up from South China Sea reefs.

Tillerson also called China’s South China Sea island-building and declaration of an air defense zone in waters of the East China Sea it contests with Japan “illegal actions.”

“They’re taking territory or control, or declaring control of territories that are not rightfully China’s,” he said.

He blamed the current situation on what he termed an inadequate U.S. response. “The failure of a response has allowed them just to keep pushing the envelop on this,” Tillerson said.

“The way we’ve got to deal with this is we’ve got to show back up in the region with our traditional allies in Southeast Asia,” he said.

Look at the detailed map for additional information:


http://tankler.com/1us-sec-nominee-unveils-dangerous-plan-over-fake-islands-in-scs-11706

 

[TaiShang]

US SEC. NOMINEE UNVEILS ‘DANGEROUS’ PLAN OVER FAKE ISLANDS IN SCS
Posted on January 12, 2017

Share on FacebookTweet on Twitter


A potentially ‘dangerous’ confrontation with Beijing on Wednesday has been announced by U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for secretary of state, saying China should be denied access to islands it has built in the contested South China Sea.

According to The Diplomat Magazine, Trump’s Nominee Rex Tillerson’s ‘dangerous idea’ for the South China Sea was proposed during a confirmation hearing before the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

When asked if he supports a more aggressive stance toward China, he said: “We’re going to have to send China a clear signal that, first, the island-building stops and, second, your access to those islands also is not going to be allowed.”

China’s building of islands and putting military assets on those islands was “akin to Russia’s taking Crimea” from Ukraine, he added.

Meanwhile, the former Exxon Mobil Corp chairman and chief executive did not elaborate on what might be done to deny China access to the islands it has built up from South China Sea reefs.

Tillerson also called China’s South China Sea island-building and declaration of an air defense zone in waters of the East China Sea it contests with Japan “illegal actions.”

“They’re taking territory or control, or declaring control of territories that are not rightfully China’s,” he said.

He blamed the current situation on what he termed an inadequate U.S. response. “The failure of a response has allowed them just to keep pushing the envelop on this,” Tillerson said.

“The way we’ve got to deal with this is we’ve got to show back up in the region with our traditional allies in Southeast Asia,” he said.

Look at the detailed map for additional information:


http://tankler.com/1us-sec-nominee-unveils-dangerous-plan-over-fake-islands-in-scs-11706

US will fight everybody. That's good, in fact, as I view it as a contribution to the decline of an undesired cancerous hegemon in our region.

Look they will also fight with your old patron:

**

Trump's pick for U.S. secretary of state calls Russia a 'danger'

(Xinhua) 10:35, January 12, 2017

　　Rex Tillerson testifies before the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee during the confirmation hearing on his nomination to be U.S. secretary of state at Capitol Hill in Washington D.C., the United States, on Jan. 11, 2017. (Xinhua/Bao Dandan)

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's pick for secretary of state Rex Tillerson on Wednesday called Russia a "danger" to the United States and said he favored keeping current U.S. sanctions against Moscow for now.

"Russia today poses a danger, but it is not unpredictable in advancing its own interests," said Tillerson in Washington at his confirmation hearing before the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

"Our NATO allies are right to be alarmed at a resurgent Russia," he added.

....

***

China's response is:

 

[ashok321]

https://twitter.com/x/status/819771864050384896

https://twitter.com/x/status/819771422146867201

 

[GS Zhou]

China is pleased with VN's kowtow

come on, this is just a normal diplomatic visit, which has NOTHING to do with kowtow!

 

[cochine]

China is pleased with VN's kowtow

Kerry says confident new U.S. administration will stick to same principles on regional security
By Reuters/Mai Nguyen January 13, 2017 | 05:47 pm GMT+7

Secretary of State John Kerry speaks at Ho Chi Minh University of Technology and Education in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, January 13, 2017. Photo by Reuters/Alex Brandon/Pool
The outgoing Secretary of State believes all disputes should be solved peacefully in accordance with international law.
Outgoing U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said on Friday he was confident that the Trump administration would stick to the same principles on regional security as those of the Obama administration.

In reference to the disputed South China Sea, which Vietnam calls the East Sea, he told a university audience in Ho Chi Minh City that countries big or small should refrain from provocation and any dispute should be solved peacefully in accordance with international law.

His comments came after U.S. Secretary of State nominee Rex Tillerson said the U.S. must send a clear signal to China that its island-building in the South China Sea must stop and that its access to those islands must not be allowed.

Secretary of State John Kerry speaks at Ho Chi Minh University of Technology and Education in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, January 13, 2017.Photo by Reuters/Alex Brandon

Secretary of State John Kerry presents a Letter of Intent, to fund the construction of Fulbright University's new campus, to Dam Bich Thuy, president of Fulbright University Vietnam, at Ho Chi Minh University of Technology and Education in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, January 13, 2017. Photo by Reuters/Alex Brandon

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry arrived in Vietnam late Thursday to begin what many consider a low-key visit at a time when all eyes are on President-elect Donald Trump’s team-in-waiting and the future of global politics. On Saturday he will tour the Mekong Delta, where he served as a commander of an American patrol boat during the Vietnam War.

Secretary of State John Kerry, left, shakes hands with Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, at the Office of the Government, before their meeting Friday, Jan. 13, 2017 in Hanoi, Vietnam. Photo by Reuters/Alex Brandon
http://e.vnexpress.net/news/news/ke...-principles-on-regional-security-3528114.html

 

[TaiShang]

South China Sea Framework Expected to Conclude in 1st Half of 2017

2017-01-26 ：IPP Review
January 26, 2017

By YAN Yan

While attending the ASEAN foreign ministers’ meeting in Vientiane, Laos on July 25, 2016, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi put forward four visions on the Code of Conduct (COC) consultation, one of which was that China and ASEAN states would finish their consultation on the COC outline in the first half of 2017 without disturbances. Wang remarked that China also planned to fast-track the COC consultation. This proposal was warmly welcomed and supported by the ASEAN states.

On January 17-18, 2017, Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin moderated the 20th China-Philippines Foreign Ministry Consultation together with his Philippine counterpart Enrique A. Manalo, and paid a visit to Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte. The two sides confirmed once again that they would actively advance the COC consultation and finish the COC framework in the first half of 2017.

The COC consultation has witnessed ups and downs since November 29, 2004, when leaders of China and ASEAN states signed the “Plan of Action to Implement the Joint Declaration on ASEAN-China Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity,” and made it clear that they would formulate the COC on the basis of consensus. Thanks to the relentless efforts of China and some ASEAN states over the recent years, the COC consultation process has yielded a series of “early harvest” results, and has entered the stage of consultation on “important and complex issues.”

Since the three-year-long South China Sea arbitration came to a close on July 12, 2016, the Chinese government has taken a series of effective responses in terms of diplomacy, law, and public opinion, which has helped alleviate ensuing tensions and bring relevant disputants back to the track of resolving disputes through negotiation, consultation, and dialogue. However, the ruling’s influence on international law — including the regimes of islands, historic rights and compulsory dispute settlement mechanisms — was not obliterated and may become more evident and widespread over time.

Besides the legal impact, other disputants may take new measures to consolidate their respective claims on the basis of the ruling, which says Chinese maritime features in the Spratly Islands are incapable of generating an entitlement to a 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone, and that there is hence no overlapping maritime zones between China and the Philippines in the South China Sea.

For example, Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Brunei may make submissions to the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS) concerning the outer limit of the continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles. They may also leave China aside and establish bilateral consultation and negotiation mechanisms to address disputes on territorial sovereignty and maritime delimitation. Therefore, in the current situation, it is particularly urgent and important for China and other disputants to bolster mutual trust and set up institutional arrangements on dispute settlement.

First, the commitment to finish the consultation on the COC outline in the first half of 2017 is a means for China to soothe the nerves of ASEAN states. As a confidence building and crisis management mechanism, the COC is important for China and the ASEAN parties concerned to bolster political trust, manage maritime conflicts, avoid potential crises and escalation of conflicts, as well as stabilize the situation in the South China Sea. On one hand, the COC will place restrictions on bilateral acts in the South China Sea and reduce the causes of tensions. On the other, the COC will help the parties concerned deepen practical maritime cooperation and accumulate trust for the final dispute settlement.

A bilateral consultation mechanism can promote regular communication among disputants and is effective for them to bolster mutual trust, narrow differences, and promote cooperation.

It still needs to be emphasized that formulating the COC is not only part of the effort to implement the “Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea” (DOC) in a comprehensive and effective manner, but is also the final objective of implementing the DOC. As Article 10 of the DOC stipulates, “the Parties concerned reaffirm that the adoption of a code of conduct in the South China Sea would further promote peace and stability in the region and agree to work, on the basis of consensus, towards the eventual attainment of this objective.”

However, it will not be easy to finish the consultation on the COC framework in the next five or six months because we cannot preclude the possibility that the process may be mired by various political factors and other contingencies, particularly when the Asia-Pacific and South China Sea policies of the Trump administration have not been fully shaped.

In the author’s view, the framework of the COC should be concise, clear, and open in order to facilitate consensus and leave room for further revision. In addition, the early harvest results, such as the list of important and complex issues, should be incorporated in the outline text. Experts and Eminent Persons Groups should begin work as early as possible to take advantage of the resources and wisdom of the Track II platform to enrich the outline text and make the COC more pragmatic.

Second, establishing a bilateral consultation mechanism between China and the other disputants is an effective guarantee to strengthen communication, reassure the other disputants, and deepen cooperation. The consensus that a bilateral consultation mechanism can be useful for both sides to meet regularly on the South China Sea issues, which was put forward in the joint statement issued by China and the Philippines during the state visit of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte to China, was confirmed once again during Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin’s recent visit to the Philippines.

The bilateral consultation mechanism can promote regular communication among disputants and will be effective for them to bolster mutual trust, narrow differences, and promote cooperation. China and Vietnam may build on the success of the maritime delimitation in the Gulf of Tonkin to build a bilateral consultation mechanism for dispute settlement.

Finally, China could take the opportunity of the Philippines’ assumption of the rotating presidency of the ASEAN to implement the DOC in a comprehensive and pragmatic manner. In the year 2017, which marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of ASEAN, the Philippines’ work will be guided by the following six priorities: place the people at the core; work for regional peace and stability; pursue maritime security and cooperation; advance inclusive, innovation-led growth; strengthen ASEAN resiliency; and promote ASEAN as a model of regionalism and as a global player.



On this basis, the effective functioning of the specialized technical committees on marine research and environmental protection, safety of navigation, and search and rescue, as well as combating transnational crimes at sea, will play a significant role in implementing relevant maritime cooperation projects, maintaining the stability of the South China Sea, and lifting China-ASEAN relations to a new level.

http://www.ippreview.com/index.php/Home/Blog/single/id/339.html

 

[cochine]

Last update 18:49 | 18/01/2017



Foreign affairs contribute to protecting national sovereignty over East Sea

Foreign affairs have made positive contributions to protecting Vietnam's sovereignty over sea and islands in the East Sea and maintaining peace, stability and relations with other countries, delegates at a meeting held by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Hanoi heard on January 17.

The meeting reviewed the foreign affairs of Vietnam in 2016 and outlined plans for 2017 in the presence of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh.

Despite unpredictable developments in the world in 2016, the diplomacy sector of Vietnam carried out foreign affairs flexibly; promptly responding to complicated situations in the world.

Vietnam has deepened its bilateral and multilateral relations and consolidated political trust with many countries while balancing relations with neighbouring countries as well as powerful countries, helping to create a peaceful and stable environment for national development.

Last year Vietnam successfully held the 7th Ayeyawady–Chao Phraya–Mekong Economic Co-operation Strategy Summit (ACMECS 7), the 8th Cambodia–Laos–Myanmar–Vietnam Summit (CLMV 8) and the World Economic Forum on the Mekong (WEF-Mekong).

Speaking at the meeting, Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh asked the diplomacy sector to focus on several tasks including the research and forecast of world developments and maintaining relations with partners, particularly key partners.

The diplomacy sector was also requested to continue keeping a peaceful and stable environment for national development and international integration.

VNA

 

[TaiShang]

Half of All US Navy Aircraft Can't Even Fly. Have Fun Fighting China, Guys!

No wonder Washington is whining about the Chinese in the South China Sea. That's literally all they can do — whine.

Matthew Allen
Sun, Feb 12, 2017


Expensive scrap metal?

Isn't there some sort of Freudian theory about how violent maniacs are often just sad loners who are trying to overcompensate for their own insufficiencies?

Well, here's Exhibit A:

Sixty-two percent of the US Navy’s F/A-18s are out of service, of which 27 percent are in major depot work and 35 percent are simply awaiting maintenance or parts, Defense News said, adding that 53 percent of all Navy aircraft – some 1,700 combat aircraft, patrol, transport planes, and helicopters – can’t fly.

Moreover, there “isn’t enough money to fix the fleet’s ships, and the backlog of ships needing work continues to grow,” the article says. Some subs have allegedly been out of service literally for years, “as much as four years or more,” Defense News reports.

Holy mother of God.

Here's a bit of free advice: If you're going to maintain hundreds of military bases all over the world and threaten and bomb and invade countries at least keep your airplanes in "able to fly" condition.

What the hell happened, Washington? "Speak softly, and carry a big stick" has turned into "be an asshole, and have carriers full of broken planes."

No wonder the U.S. only bombs countries like Iraq and Libya. Anyone with a semi-functional military would turn the yanks into hamburger meat.

Good luck with that whole "South China Sea" thing. (Do your shiny-looking ships even float? Yes, but just barely.)

@Chinese-Dragon , @long_

 

[cochine]

Last update 19:19 | 09/02/2017



Chinese bank branch on Vietnam’s Phu Lam island is illegal: Spokesman
A Chinese bank branch established in the so-called Sansa city on Phu Lam island in Vietnam’s Hoang Sa archipelago is illegal, stated Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Le Hai Binh.

Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Le Hai Binh


He chaired the ministry’s regular press conference in Hanoi on February 9 and responded to some queries, including the one on Vietnam’s reaction to a Chinese bank setting up a branch in the so-called Sansa city.

“We have repeatedly affirmed that Vietnam has indisputable sovereignty over Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagoes. Therefore, every activity carried out by foreign countries in this area, if there is, without Vietnam’s permission is illegal and does not change the fact that Vietnam has full sovereignty over the area,” Binh said.

VNA

 

[艹艹艹]

Chinese bank setting up a branch in the Sansha city

 

[JustHappened]

China upset at disputed islands mention in Japan-U.S. meeting

China's Foreign Ministry expressed concern on Monday after Japan got continued U.S. backing for its dispute with Beijing over islands in the East China Sea during a meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

A joint Japanese-U.S. statement after the weekend meeting in the United States said the two leaders affirmed that Article 5 of the U.S.-Japan security treaty covered the islands, known as the Senkaku in Japan and the Diaoyu in China.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said China was "seriously concerned and resolutely opposed", adding that the islands had been China's inherent territory since ancient times.

"No matter what anyone says or does, it cannot change the fact that the Diaoyu Islands belong to China, and cannot shake China's resolve and determination to protect national sovereignty and territory," Geng told a daily news briefing in Beijing.

The United States and Japan should watch what they say and do and stop making the wrong comments to avoid complicating the issue and affecting regional peace and stability, he added.



(Reporting by Ben Blanchard; Editing by Jacqueline Wong)