Diaoyu Island and its affiliated islands are inherent territories of China: Ministry

Diaoyu Island and its affiliated islands are inherent territories of China — a fact that cannot be altered, no matter what the United States and Japan say or do, a spokesman for China's Ministry of National Defense said on Friday.

The spokesman Zhang Xiaogang made these remarks during an online briefing, in response to the US confirmation that Article 5 of the US-Japan Security Treaty applies to Diaoyu Island during a recent call between the Japanese Defense Minister and the US Secretary of Defense.

Zhang said that any actions or statements by the US and Japan cannot shake China's resolve and determination to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

"The US-Japan Security Treaty is a product of the Cold War. US-Japan military and security cooperation should neither target third-party countries nor harm regional development," he stressed.

Noting that this year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory in the World Anti-Fascist War, the spokesman expressed hope that Japan will learn from history and demonstrate its commitment to peaceful development through concrete actions, doing more to enhance mutual trust between countries and promote regional peace and stability.