The foreign ministry is protesting Japan’s approval of textbooks that list the disputed Diaoyutai Islands as part of Japanese territory.
The Diaoyutai Islands, located in the East China Sea, are known as the Senkakus in Japan. They are claimed by Taiwan, Japan, and China.
In a press release on Saturday, the foreign ministry said that it is making a strong protest to Japan over the issue. It also said that it will not recognize Japan’s unilateral move and criticized the move as unhelpful to regional stability.
The ministry also called on all parties concerned to engage in peaceful dialogue and to work together to explore the resources around the islands.
According to Japan’s Asahi Shimbun newspaper, all social studies textbooks approved for use in Japanese elementary schools from April 2015 will mention the Senkakus.
Seven of the 14 textbooks submitted for screening clearly state that the Senkakus are “inherent territories of Japan”. The textbooks also lay claim to the Takeshima island chain, called the Dokdo by South Korea, which is at the center of a territorial dispute between Tokyo and Seoul.