Residents protest against the Japanese government's "purchase" of China's Diaoyu Islands in front of the Japanese embassy in Beijing on Sunday. [China Daily]

Recently, in spite of strong oppositions and serious protests from the Chinese side, the Japanese government still "nationalizes" the Diaoyu Islands, which arouses anger among the Chinese people. It is not only a futile and dangerous farce but an open challenge to China’s territorial sovereignty and national dignity.

The Diaoyu Islands and the affiliated islets have been China's inherent territory since ancient times. The Japanese government's so-called "islands-buying" is ridiculous, illegal and invalid, which cannot change the fact that China claims territorial sovereignty over the Diaoyu Islands and the affiliated islets.

The essence of the Japanese government's arbitrary "nationalization" of the Diaoyu Islands is Japan's intention to nibble Chinese territory in a gradual way. This kind of trick underestimates Chinese people's wisdom, determination and capability to defend the territory and sovereignty. The Japanese government, which thinks "nationalization" is a brilliant move, is actually about to fall off the dangerous abyss.