Attempt to purchase Diaoyu Islands dooms to fail
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E-mail People's Daily, July 12, 2012
Recently, 'farces' have been staged by the Japanese side on the issue of the Diaoyu Islands. After the far right-wing governor Shintaro Ishihara proposed to buy the Diaoyu Islands, the Japanese government joined him to “purchase” instead of stopping his attempt, with Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda claimed that the government is carrying out comprehensive study in purchasing the islands and realize the “nationalization”.
As the farce staged by Japan directly involves in China's territory and sovereignty issues, if it develops unchecked, it will surely result in the issue of the Daioyu Islands spiraling out of control. In turn, this will lead to new tensions in Sino-Japanese relations and has impact in other important areas. Therefore we must make the following points clear to the Japanese side:
First, do not have an illusion that a preconceived misconception will become truth after it is told a thousand times. Japanese Prime Minister claimed at a press conference recently that the Diaoyu Islands are part of Japan's national territory; this is not a territorial issue or an issue of ownership. The Japanese side’s attempt to 'bleach' their stealing of the Diaoyu Islands and take them as their own are in vain. As early as the Ming Dynasty, the Diaoyu Islands were undisputedly under Chinese territory. Japan took the Diaoyu Islands after the first Sino-Japanese war. After the World War II, the United States gave the Diaoyu Islands, which should have been given back to China, to Japan illicitly. However, this was opposed to and condemned by the Chinese government. Subsequently, the United States government has also stated that the return of Okinawa's Administrative Sovereignty has no impact on the issue of sovereignty of the 'Senkaku Islands' ('Diaoyu Islands')”. The Japanese government’s act to self-promote this so-called sovereignty with great gusto is not in fact deceiving itself.
Second, do not have an illusion that small tricks will turn into facts. As early as 10 years ago, the Japanese government claimed to have signed “lease” contract with nationals who have “ownership” of the Diaoyu Islands, and rented the three isles near the Diaoyu Islands.
Noda has now tried to upgrade the “lease” to "nationalization". During the period, Japan launched a series of acts, including considering stationing vessels carrying helicopters in the waters surrounding the islands, and approving new textbooks claiming the Diaoyu Islands as its own territory. Recently, the Japanese extreme right-wing forces have been conjuring up attention through “Fishing Competitions", "Purchasing of the Islands" and "Garrison" remarks. These types of stunts and actions repeatedly expose the Japanese’s intention to take the sovereignty of the Diaoyu Islands, but all these will not change the sovereignty of the Diaoyu Islands.
Third, it is no more than a mere fantasy that the Chinese people will swallow the bitter fruit. In recent times, the Japanese government has been indulgent with the right-wing groups and strengthening their "effective control" over the waters of the Diaoyu Islands, interfering in the Chinese fishing vessels’ normal operation.
Japan is attempting to create a "slowly boiling the frog" effect, hoping the Chinese people will turn a blind eye to their acts over the Diaoyu Islands, and even endure what they do. Japan's misjudgment of the issue led to the ship collision incident in 2010. In the current situation initially provoked by Japan, the Chinese government and its people have shown firm determination and wills to safeguard their national sovereignty and territorial integrity. Similarly, this goes for the "purchase of the islands" farce in which the Chinese Foreign Ministry has made clear that China's sacred territory does not allow anyone to buy or sell. Chinese government will continue to take the necessary measures to resolutely safeguard the sovereignty of the Diaoyu Islands and surrounding islands.
For the case of the Diaoyu Islands issue, whether the Japanese government says it is a "lease" or "purchase", they stole the islands originally belonging to China. But what belongs to China will still continue to belong to China. If the Japanese respond by further upgrading their tactics, China will have to react strongly.
The Japanese side should be able to spot China's bottom line, the overall situation of existing Sino-Japanese relations and avoid any further words or actions to complicate the issue surrounding the Diaoyu Islands.
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