Japan's remarks on air-defence zone 'groundless': China

China said Sunday that it "firmly opposes" Japan's remarks on the Diaoyu Islands, included in the East China Sea Air Defence Identification Zone, calling them "groundless and utterly wrong".

"China's measures conform to the Charter of the United Nations and international laws and practices and are thoroughly legitimate. The irresponsible remarks from the Japanese side are groundless and utterly wrong, and China firmly opposes them," reported Xinhua citing Chinese foreign ministry's spokesperson Qin Gang.

The official made the remarks while responding to questions concerning Japanese foreign ministry as saying that it could not accept the fact that the zone covered the Diaoyu Islands.

According to Qin, China's foreign ministry and the Chinese embassy in Japan have rebutted the unreasonable representation lodged by the Japanese side and demanded Japan to correct mistakes.

The spokesperson reiterated that the Diaoyu Islands and its surrounding islets were an inherent part of Chinese territory, and the country's determination and volition to safeguard its sovereignty over the islands were "unwavering".

"We require the Japanese side to stop all moves that undermine China's territorial sovereignty and strive to properly manage and seek solutions to the problems through dialogues and negotiations," Qin said.

China Saturday established the East China Sea Air Defence Identification Zone and announced aircraft identification rules for entering the area.

According to BBC, the demarcated air defence identification zone covers the controversial islands that are also claimed by Japan.

The row over these islands, called Diaoyu in China and Senkaku in Japan, has left ties between Beijing and Tokyo highly tense.

The islands, also claimed by Taiwan, potentially contain oil deposits.