China strongly opposes Japanese rightists in Diaoyu Islands

BEIJING, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- China strongly opposes Japanese rightists landing on the Diaoyu Islands on Sunday, and urges Japan to put an end to its actions that seek to undermine China's territorial sovereignty, China's Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Sunday.

The illegal actions of the Japanese rightists have violated China's territorial sovereignty, and senior officials from the Foreign Ministry have lodged solemn representations to the Japanese ambassador to China, Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said in the statement.

"The Japanese side should properly handle the current issue and avoid seriously damaging the overall situation of China-Japan relations," Qin said.

A total of 150 Japanese lawmakers and members of right-wing groups went to waters around the Diaoyu Islands to mourn soldiers who died in World War II, and 10 of them landed on the Diaoyu Islands Sunday morning, according to media reports.