[Title] Remarks of Rebuke Against Japan's Statement on Diaoyu Dao by Ambassador Li Baodong During the General Debate of the 67th Session of the UN General Assembly

Mr. President,

In his statement, the Japanese delegate flagrantly distorted history on the Diaoyu Dao issue, and engaged in sophistry over Japan's occupation of the Chinese territory. What he said is utterly nonsense. Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi reiterated China's stern position on the Diaoyu Dao issue in the statement he just made at the UN General Assembly session. This position is consistent and clear-cut. The Diaoyu Dao and its affiliated islands have been an integral part of China's territory since ancient times, and China has indisputable historical and jurisprudential evidence to support this claim. Japan waged an expansionist war of aggression against China at the end of the 19th century. In the same way as the colonial countries grabbed and occupied the land of many countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America, Japan stole Taiwan and its affiliated islands, including the Diaoyu Dao, from China through this war and began its colonial rule over them. During WWII, China, the United States and the United Kingdom issued the Cairo Declaration which clearly stipulated that one of the purposes for the three countries to fight this war is to make sure that "all the territories Japan has stolen from the Chinese" shall be restored to China. The Proclamation and the Japanese Instrument of Surrender issued in 1945 further confirmed that Japan, as a defeated country, must honor its international obligations in good faith, one of which was to return to China all the territories including the Diaoyu Dao that Japan had stolen.

After so many years have gone by, however, the Japanese government still clings to its old-time colonial mindset, breaches its international obligations time and again, and attempts for continued occupation of the Diaoyu Dao. The recent so-called "island purchase" by the Japanese government is nothing different from money laundering. Its purpose is to legalize its stealing and occupation of the Chinese territory through this illegal means and to confuse international public opinion and deceive people in the world. This action of Japan constitutes a serious encroachment upon China's sovereignty, and intends to continue and legalize the result of Japan's colonial policy. It is an open denial of the outcomes of victory of the world anti-fascist war, and a grave challenge to the post-war international order and the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations.

Illegal act, no matter how it is packaged, is illegal in nature and never generates rights. This is the most basic legal principle and common sense. The act of Japan falls into this category and is utterly illegal and void. It will never change the fact that the Diaoyu Dao is part of China's territory, nor will it ever shake China's resolve to safeguard its territorial sovereignty over the Diaoyu Dao and its affiliated islands. The Chinese government and people will never waver in their will and determination to uphold China's territorial sovereignty. China is capable of safeguarding the integrity of its territory. The Chinese government urges the Japanese side to put an immediate halt to all acts that undermine China's territorial sovereignty.

Mr. President,

China firmly opposes the statement made by the Japanese delegate. The Japanese delegate has not only harbored no sense of guilt for Japan's history of aggression and colonialism, but instead, indulged in remarks that held no water at all. This is strongly opposed by the Chinese side. Japan's so-called "nationalization" of the Diaoyu Dao is based purely on the logic of robbers. At the end of the 19th century, Japan stole from China large chunks of territory, including the Diaoyu Dao, through colonial war of aggression. Now we are in the 21st century. Japan still adopts the obsolete colonial mentality, and attempts to exercise long-term occupation of the Diaoyu Dao that it stole from China. The entire 1.3 billion Chinese people have expressed strong indignation against this and will firmly fight against such practice.

The Japanese act is a resistance to the international endeavors against colonialism, an outright denial of the outcomes of victory of the world anti-fascist war, and a grave challenge to the post-war international order and the international law. China is firmly opposed to this. China will continue to take resolute and forceful measures to unswervingly safeguard the Chinese territorial sovereignty.

The current situation has been caused by the Japanese side single-handedly. Japan must respect history, face reality, discard illusions, stop daydreaming, honor its international obligation stake concrete measures to redress its mistakes, and stop all acts that violate and undermine China's sovereignty.

Thank you Mr. President.