China's Xi calls Japan's "purchase" of Diaoyu Islands "a farce" - Xinhua

Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping (R) meets with U.S. Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 19, 2012. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei)

BEIJING, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping on Wednesday said Japan's "purchase" of the Diaoyu Islands was a farce and urged Japan to stop any behaviors that infringe upon China's sovereignty.

"Japan should rein in its behavior and stop any words and acts that undermine China's sovereignty and territorial integrity," Xi said in a meeting with visiting U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta.

Xi's comments followed the Japanese government's announcement of its decision to "purchase" part of the Diaoyu Islands on Sept. 10.

He said Japan's "purchase" openly questioned the legal effects of the Cairo Declaration and the Potsdam Proclamation and intensified the neighbors' territorial disputes.

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China's top legislature strongly condemns Japan's "purchase" of Diaoyu Islands

BEIJING, Sept. 11 (Xinhua) -- The Foreign Affairs Committee of China's National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislative body, issued a statement here on Tuesday, voicing its strong indignation toward and condemnation of Japan's "purchase" of the Diaoyu Islands and its affiliated islets.

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CPPCC condemns Japan's "nationalization" of Diaoyu Islands

BEIJING, Sept. 11 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), China's top political advisory body, on Tuesday voiced strong condemnation of Japan's so-called "nationalization" of the Diaoyu Islands and some of their affiliated islets.

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Chinese VP reiterates Diaoyu Islands in meeting

YINCHUAN, Sept. 11 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang told visiting Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Peter O'Neill on Tuesday that the Japanese government's deal to "purchase" the Diaoyu Islands from the so-called "owner" severely undermines China's territorial sovereignty.

"The Chinese side has lodged solemn representations and strong protest to the Japanese government," Li said as he met with O'Neill in Yinchuan, capital of northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. O'Neill was here to attend the China (Ningxia) International Investment and Trade Fair and the 3rd China-Arab States Economic and Trade Forum.  Full story

Full text of Statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China

BEIJING, Sept. 10 (Xinhua) -- Following is the full text of the Statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China issued on Monday.

Statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China

10 September 2012

Regardless of repeated strong representations of the Chinese side, the Japanese government announced on 10 September 2012 the "purchase" of the Diaoyu Island and its affiliated Nan Xiaodao and Bei Xiaodao and the implementation of the so-called nationalization" of the islands. This constitutes a gross violation of China's sovereignty over its own territory and is highly offensive to the 1.3 billion Chinese people. It seriously tramples on historical facts and international jurisprudence. The Chinese government and people express firm opposition to and strong protest against the Japanese move. Full story