Beijing, May 9 (IANS): China has reiterated its claim over disputed Diaoyu islands, stating that they are its "inherent territory".

A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said Wednesday that the Diaoyu island and its affiliated islets were part of China's inherent territory and had never been part of Liuqiu or Okinawa, reported Xinhua.

The ministry reacted after the People's Daily, the flagship newspaper of the Communist Party of China (CPC), Wednesday published an article --"On the Treaty of Shimonoseki and the Diaoyu Islands Issue" -- which discusses Japanese sovereignty over Okinawa island.

On Sunday, Chinese ships had carried out their routine patrolling around the disputed islands that are also claimed by Japan.

The islands are called "Diaoyu" in China but "Senkaku" in Japan. The row over the islands, which are presently controlled by Japan, has left ties between Tokyo and Beijing highly tense.

Japan claims to be occupying the islands since 1895, while China maintains the islands were recognised as Chinese territory as early as 1783.