New ‘White Book’ Emphasizes China’s Sovereignty Over Diaoyutai Islands

New ‘White Book’ Emphasizes China’s Sovereignty Over Diaoyutai Islands
9/23/2007
Updated:
9/23/2007

Hong Kong China News Agency reported that China will emphasize that the Diaoyutai Islands are China’s inherent territory in its 2007 version of Foreign Affairs White Book (The White Book). The White Book will have its publishing ceremony in Xinjiang at the end of September and then it will be published publicly.

The Hong Kong Central Agency reported that China will emphasize the topic of sovereignty over Daiyu Islands and its affiliated islands in China’s 2007 foreign affairs white cover book. The new version of China’s foreign affairs white cover book will have its publishing ceremony in Xinjiang next week, after which it will be available to the public.

The White Book reveals that during the Sino-Japanese discussions regarding issues in East China Sea, China stated its consistent stance for demarcating borders on the seas and determining sovereignty of the Diaoyutai Islands, China pointed out that both parties should solve these issues fairly according to the shape of the continental shelf. The White Book also emphasizes that the Diaoyutai Islands are China’s inherent territory and that both parties should stop fighting over sovereignty and instead determine a way to work together.

The Diaoyu Islands are located in the East China Sea, approximately 150 kilometers away from the northeast coast of Taiwan. Taiwan, China, and Japan all claim these islands as their territory.

The White Book points out that the Sino-U.S. relationship was stable and also made some progress in 2006, while the Sino-Japanese relationship also broke through a deadlock; the two parties had some discussions on how to settle the lines of demarcation in the East China Sea. However, there are still issues related to Taiwan and trade and the U.S. is still using issues such as human rights, religion, Tibet and the Dalai Lama, and Hong Kong to pressure China about internal policies.