China vows to keep order in territorial waters

The handling of the Diaoyu Islands issue is not entirely dependent on the attitude from the Chinese side, Zhang Zhijun, Vice-Foreign Minister said on Tuesday.

"We hope the Diaoyu Islands problem can be properly solved and that the dispute is effectively controlled. But we will not allow Chinese territorial sovereignty to be harmed," he said on the sidelines of the 12th National People's Congress.

Zhang reiterated China's stance to maintain order in its territorial waters through maritime law enforcement.

The report of the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China has identified China's goal to build itself into a maritime power by developing the maritime economy, protect the maritime environment and uphold its maritime rights.

Fu Ying, vice-foreign minister and spokeswoman of the country's top legislature, said on Monday that Japan has sabotaged its consensus with China and invalidated the basis for China's restraint.

She said China is willing to solve the tension through negotiations, and she quoted the Chinese proverb "One hand alone cannot clap" to indicate that Japan has failed to engage in talks.