Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said China has made strong representations with Japan over its Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's comments that characterized Beijing as having a "deeply ingrained" need to challenge neighbors over territory.

Hong Lei, Spokesman, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said, "China is strongly dissatisfied with the Japanese leader’s comments that distort facts, attack and defame China and stir up confrontations between the two countries. China has lodged solemn representation to Japan. I want to reaffirm that Diaoyu Islands and its affiliated islets have been China’s inherent territory since ancient times. China has indisputable sovereignty over the Diaoyu Islands. The illegal purchasing of the Diaoyu Islands by the Japanese government severely violated China’s territorial sovereignty. Japan must correct its error and eliminate influence."

At the daily press briefing on Friday, Hong Lei also said China has carried out maritime activities in accordance with domestic and international laws. Hong stressed the Chinese people feel strong dissatisfaction and indignation because Japan has continued making mistakes on historical and sensitive issues, including the Diaoyu Islands dispute. He also urged the Japanese government to show sincerity and make concrete actions to improve bilateral relations.

In an interview with The Washington Post, Abe said China has a "deeply ingrained" need to spar with Japan and other Asian neighbors over territory, because the ruling Communist Party of China uses the disputes to maintain strong domestic support.

However, Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga clarified Friday that the newspaper misquoted Abe’s remarks and that it has led to a misunderstanding. Suga said Abe has repeatedly emphasized the importance of the Japan-China relationship, and Japan will push forward bilateral strategic and mutually beneficial relations.