China lodges protest over new Japanese high-school textbooks

China today lodged a protest with Japan over its approval of new high-school textbooks that describe the disputed islands in the East China sea as its "inherent territory".
"The Chinese side is seriously concerned and we have lodged solemn representations to Japan," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying told a press briefing.
Hua reaffirmed that the Diaoyu Island which Japan calls Senkaus and its adjacent islets have been an inherent part of Chinese territory since ancient times.
"No matter how Japan tries to propagandise its wrong position on the islands, it will never change the fact that China has sovereignty over them," Hua said.

"The Nanjing Massacre is a severe crime committed by Japanese militarists during World War II," Hua said, adding that China has abundant historical and legal evidence to prove it.
She said the substantial deletion exposes Japan's reluctance to face up to history, "which is a dangerous signal."

In the latest review, a total of 259 textbooks were given approval out of 261 that took part in the process, according to the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology.
"We urge Japan to reflect on its militarist aggression, educate its younger generation correctly, and improve ties with its neighbors through practical action," Hua said.

China is embroiled in a territorial row with Japan over the disputed islands, known as the Senkakus in Japan, which controls them, and claimed by Beijing as the Diaoyus.