China rejects criticism over role in territorial sea disputes

In response to the criticism over its role in the territorial disputes in South and East China Seas, China has dismissed all allegations, saying that it wanted peaceful development alongside its neighbours.

Gen Qi Jianguo, Deputy Chief of Staff of People's Liberation Army and head of military intelligence, maintained China's sovereignty over Diaoyu islands, while addressing a security conference in which China's military behaviour was questioned, reports BBC.

China for long has been embroiled in territorial disputes in the South China Sea over island groupings.

Recently Vietnam witnessed anti-china protests over long-standing territorial disputes in the South China Sea, including Spratly and Paracel islands.

According to the report, Gen Qi said that China has never taken foreign expansion and military conquering as state policy.

He said that China believed in resolving conflicts through dialogues, consultations and peaceful negotiations and hence it should not be seen as a threat and should rather be judged by its actions.

The recent claims made by Chinese scholars that Beijing may have rights to the Ryukyus, the chain of islands known in Japan as Nansei and which include Okinawa, Gen Qi said that the claims did not represent the views of the government.

He further maintained the historical claims on the islands of Senkaku in Japan on which Taiwan also lays claim.

Japan, on the other hand, had warned China in April that it would use force if any landing attempt were made on the islands, the report added.