India hopes China, Japan will resolve island dispute amicably

NEW DELHI: Amid growing tension between China and Japan over a group of uninhabited islets in the East China Sea, India today hoped the matter is resolved amicably between the two countries.

"Yes, We have been made aware of Chinese position on this issue. On such matters of maritime and others disputes between countries.....We hope that these issues are resolved by the parties concern in an amicable manner," official spokesperson in the Ministry of External Affairs Syed Akbaruddin said here.

Warning Japan of "serious consequences" following "purchase" of the islands, which are called Diaoyu in Chinese and Senkaku in Japanese, China termed the "purchase" as "totally illegal and invalid".

Chinese Ambassador to India Zhang Yan, while interacting with a select group of journalists yesterday, had said "the so-called 'purchase of Diaoyu Islands by Japanese government is totally illegal and invalid. The Chinese government and people have expressed firm opposition to and strong indignation over this action."