On Tuesday the Security Protection Committee of the Japanese House of Representatives passed a resolution reiterating Japan's ownership claim on the Diaoyu Islands and called on the government to tighten control over the tiny archipelago in the East China Sea. 

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda said the authorities would rethink the security of the islands and close any "loopholes" in line with the resolution.

The lower house parliamentary motion and Fukuda's remarks were clearly provocative.

The latest resolution on the Diaoyu Islands raised by some Japanese lawmakers has once again provoked indignation from China.

In essence, it is an attempt by the Japanese to domestically legalize their claim of sovereignty over the archipelago.

In fact, as the Chinese Foreign Ministry has stated, it is an "illegal and ineffective" move.

There is overwhelming evidence to indicate the Diaoyu Islands have been part of Chinese territory since ancient times.

As early as the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), the Chinese administration included the island group in its coastal defence scope of Fujian Province.

China has never given up its inherent ownership over these small uninhabited islands even during the period of Japan's illegal occupation of the archipelago after it was snatched from China through an aggressive military action in the late 19th century.

The Japanese occupied the islands for an extended period during the Cold War by taking advantage of favorable international circumstances in that period.

In view of the complicated situation, the Chinese government has advocated resolving the ownership controversy in the spirit of "shelving differences and seeking a common development."

However, the past actions of right-wing Japanese factions and even the Japanese authorities are regrettable.

Turning a blind eye to China's hopes for an amicable resolution, the Japanese have from time to time made irresponsible statements and taken irresponsible actions, which seriously damage Sino-Japanese relations.

Japan should clearly understand that any unilateral move or resolution concerning the Diaoyu Islands will by no means change the archipelago's status of being part of Chinese territory.

With Japan's relationship with China already undermined by frequent visits by high-profile officials to the Yasukuni Shrine, Tokyo should make fence-mending efforts rather than pursue measures aimed in the opposite direction.

To build a good image in the minds of Chinese people and maintain a smooth Sino-Japanese relationship, the Japanese authorities should rein in any irresponsible or unilateral move on the Diaoyu Islands and free the issue from being the spark that ignites further straining of bilateral ties.

(China Daily April 2, 2004)