Japan taking unilateral or coercive actions on Diaoyu Islands dispute: Chinese envoy

WASHINGTON. Chinese Ambassador to the United States Cui Tiankai said Tuesday that it is Japan, not China, that is taking “unilateral or coercive actions” on their islands dispute.Cui made the remarks in response to U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel’s unfounded assertion on the dispute between Japan and China over the Diaoyu Islands.Addressing a joint news conference Monday with visiting Japanese Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera, Hagel claimed that the U.S. “opposes any unilateral or coercive action that seeks to undermine Japan’s administrative control, a message (Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff) General (Martin) Dempsey conveyed to his counterparts last week in Beijing.”In an interview with Washington-based Chinese media, Cui said some of Hagel’s remarks on the meetings between Dempsey and the Chinese side do not square with the facts.”The Chinese side held in-depth exchange of views on a wide range of issues with Mr. Dempsey and clearly expressed China’s stances and opinions. I believe relevant U.S. parties have already received briefings on the meetings and should have a good knowledge of the facts,” Cui said.Cui emphasized that it is Japan, not China, that has created the tensions and has been taking “unilateral or coercive actions” on the issue of the Diaoyu Islands, which are historically an integral part of China’s territory.”On this issue, we can see the bare facts and who is right or wrong,” he said.The Chinese envoy said the U.S. side should stay alert against the recent provocative actions taken by Japanese political leaders. A number of Japanese Cabinet officials and lawmakers recently paid visits to the Yasukuni Shrine, where 14 Class-A war criminals are honored among Japan’s war dead.