ISTANBUL

China on Monday reiterated its claims on the disputed islets of Diaoyu Dao, also known as Senkaku Islands, amid its ongoing tensions with Japan over Taiwan.

“Diaoyu Dao and its affiliated islands have been China’s territory since ancient times. China’s sovereignty over Diaoyu Dao is supported by clear history and solid legal basis,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said.

Known as Diaoyu Dao by China, and Senkaku Islands by Japan, the disputed islets are controlled by Tokyo but claimed by Beijing.

“Ample evidence can be found, including in Japan’s diplomatic archives, maps, and writings of historians,” Lin told a news conference in Beijing, calling Japan’s claims on the islets “illegal.”

Lin was responding to a question regarding Japan’s addition of three sets of “records” in its National Museum of Territory and Sovereignty in Tokyo, as “evidence” to back Japan’s claims over the disputed islets, according to an official transcript of the presser released by Beijing.

Beijing’s statement follows Takaichi’s Nov. 7 comments that a Chinese attack on Taiwan could legally constitute a “survival-threatening situation,” potentially allowing Japan to “exercise the right of collective self-defense.” Her remarks raised tensions between the two countries.

China sharply criticized the comments, and hundreds of thousands of Chinese tourists reportedly canceled trips to Japan. Tokyo said Beijing also halted Japanese seafood imports and postponed a planned trilateral culture ministers’ meeting with Japan and South Korea, a step Japan criticized.

Last week, Takaichi said that it is her “responsibility” to protect and maximize Japan’s national interests by maintaining good relations with China through dialogue, clarifying that her remarks on Nov. 7 were made in response "sincerely" to a specific question about Japan’s possible response in the event of an emergency involving Taiwan.

But Lin said on Monday that "Japan prevaricated to downplay the situation while continuing down the wrong path. China would absolutely not accept that. On issues of principle, an evasive attitude will not get the Japanese side anywhere."

"We urge the Japanese side to learn the lessons of history, do soul-searching, take seriously what it has heard from the Chinese side, simply retract the erroneous remarks as it should, and take practical steps to honor its political commitments to China," he added.