Jiji Press — Apr 27

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying clarified at a regular press conference Friday that the Senkaku islands in the East China Sea are part of the country’s core interests concerning its territorial sovereignty.

It is the first time that a Chinese Foreign Ministry official has recognized in a public comment that the islands represents a core interest of China.China looks certain to further toughen its stance against Japan over the islands, which Beijing calls Diaoyu, now that they have been clearly cited as a core interest of the country by a senior Foreign Ministry official.

News source: Jiji Press