(China Daily)
Updated: 2008-06-11 07:41

China is dissatisfied with the actions of a Japanese Coast Guard patrol boat in waters near the Diaoyu Islands that led to the sinking of a Taiwan fishing boat Tuesday, Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said.

"We are seriously concerned and strongly dissatisfied with the incident that caused the sinking of the Taiwan fishing boat," Qin said yesterday at a regular press conference.

The patrol boat collided with the fishing vessel near the islands early yesterday morning.

The fishing boat sank soon after, about 9 km south of the islands. All 16 of its crew were rescued.

The Diaoyu Islands have been Chinese territory since ancient times and China owns indisputable sovereignty over them, Qin said. The Chinese government has asked Japan to stop illegal activities in waters near the islands, to prevent similar incidents from happening again, he said.

Also at yesterday's briefing, Qin responded to the joint call made by the US and the EU at the US-EU summit in Slovenia yesterday, for "results-oriented" dialogue between the Chinese central government and the Dalai Lama.

The Tibet autonomous region is an inalienable part of China and the talks between the central government and the Dalai Lama is China's internal affair, he said. "We oppose any country's interference in affairs concerning Tibet."

Also at the press conference, Qin said UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon will pay an official visit to China from July 1 to 3 at the invitation of the government.