China concerned over Japan-US plans to defend disputed islands

China today expressed "grave concern" and vowed to defend its joint after reports claimed that US and Japan are planning a joint mapping operation over the contested Islands and the entire East China Sea.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hong Lei said no outside pressure can shake the will and determination of the Chinese government and its people in defending national territorial sovereignty.
His comment came in response to Japanese media reports that Tokyo and Washington have started mapping out joint operational plans over the Diaoyu Islands and the entire East China Sea.
"China is gravely concerned with relevant media reports," Hong said, reiterating the Islands are China's inherent territory.

The Chinese government has the resolution and capability to safeguard national territorial sovereignty, he said.
In Tokyo, Kyodo news agency said Japan and the US have started mapping out joint operation plans to prepare for any contingency arising from conflicting claims between Tokyo and Beijing over the disputed Islands.

According to the news agency, Japan had sounded out the US on devising joint contingency plans in light of concerns that an accidental clash over the islands in the East China Sea could develop into an armed conflict between Asia's two biggest economies.
Since last September, China has been sending periodic naval patrols to the waters around uninhabited islands administered by Japan. The move followed Japan's move to buy the islands from a private owner, which Beijing said amounted nationalisation of the islets.

Currently ships of the both the countries patrol the islands called Diaoyu by China and Senkakus by Japan asserting each other's sovereignty over them.