China urges Japan to admit dispute over islands

BEIJING - A Foreign Ministry spokesman on Tuesday responded to Japanese Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba's remarks maintaining Tokyo's position that there is no sovereignty dispute over the Diaoyu Islands, urging Japan to admit the dispute.

It is "self-deceiving" for Japan to allege that there is no dispute over the islands, Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said at a routine press briefing.

"The situation is not what it once was following Japan's illegal purchase of the islands, which has destroyed an important consensus reached by the older generation of leaders regarding the islands," Hong said.

"Japan should not have any illusions in this regard any more," Hong said, calling on Japan to admit the dispute and solve it through negotiation.

"We hope the Japanese side will demonstrate sincerity and make due efforts to solve the current dispute," he said.

Gemba said Tuesday that Tokyo does not believe a territorial dispute exists, according to media reports.