BEIJING, Mar. 1 -- The patrol and law enforcement activities by Chinese public service vessels in waters of the Diaoyu Islands are legitimate and lawful, said the Information Office of China's Ministry of National Defense in a written statement on Monday when responding to the recent Japanese reports that the Chinese public service vessels have been conducting more frequent activities in waters near the Diaoyu Islands and Japan is concerned about China's increased maritime activities.
The statement stressed that, the Diaoyu Islands and its affiliated islands are inherent Chinese territory with sufficient historical and legal grounds . The patrol and law enforcement activities by the Chinese public service vessels within the Chinese territorial waters are legitimate and undisputed, and will continue to be carried out normally.
Japan is an important neighbor of China. Japan is expected to focus on the long-term development of the China-Japan relationship, meet each other halfway with China, and strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation to achieve common development and benefit the two countries and their peoples.