BEIJING, May 19 (Xinhuanet) -- China Thursday expressed anger with several Japanese citizens' registration of permanent addresses on the Diaoyu Islands, saying that China "will never accept" any of Japan's unilateral moves on the islands.

    The Japanese government announced Tuesday that 18 Japanese citizens have registered permanent addresses on the islands, a group of islets in the East China Sea.

    Asked to comment on the issue, Kong said China's stance on the Diaoyu Islands was "clear and consistent."

    "I reiterate that the Diaoyu and surrounding islands have been parts of the Chinese territory since ancient times. China holds indisputable historical and lawful evidence on the issue," he said.

    He said any unilateral move taken by Japan on the Diaoyu Islands is a serious infringement on China's territorial sovereignty and is "unlawful and invalid."

    "China firmly opposes such moves and will never accept them," Kong told a regular press briefing.

"Real actions" of remorse for history urged

    China Thursday urged that Japanese leaders should "put their words into real actions" to show their remorse for Japan's history of aggression.

    Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi indicated Monday tha the will visit Tokyo's Yasukuni Shrine again this year, despite protests by other Asian countries against his visits to the notorious shrine, which honors 14 Class-A war criminals responsible for Japan's aggression before and during World War II.

    "I don't understand why I should stop visiting Yasukuni Shrine," Koizumi was quoted by Kyodo News as saying at a House of Representatives Budget Committee session. "I will decide when it is appropriate to go."

    Kong Quan cited the shrine visits by Japanese leaders as one of the most difficult issues in current China-Japan political relations, saying that the issue reflects what the Japanese government thinks about Japan's history of aggression against other Asian countries.

    He said Japanese leaders have admitted time and again that that part of Japan's history enormously hurt the Asian people, including the Chinese people, and have pledged "deep remorse" for it.

    "In this case, China feels that the Japanese leaders should puttheir words into real actions and refrain from do things that will hurt the Chinese and other Asian people," Kong told a regular press conference.

    "Only through this can we lay a favorable foundation for developing a healthy, stable, and friendly relationship between China and Japan," he said. Enditem     

Space weapons

    China Thursday voiced objections to putting weapons into space, saying "space should be utilized for peace."

    The New York Times reported Tuesday that the US Air Force is seeking President Bush's approval of a national security directive that could move the United States closer to fielding both offensive and defensive space weapons.

    While White House spokesman Scott McClellan said on Wednesday that the Bush administration is preparing to update its space policy to allow for protection of satellites from attack, but is not considering putting weapons into space.

    "Space belongs to the commonwealth of all humanity. China has always held the opinion that space should be utilized for peace to benefit humankind," said China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan, when asked to comment on this at a regular press conference.

    "China opposes putting weapons into space," he said,

    "China deems that active and precautionary measures -- carrying out negotiations or drawing up relevant international laws and decrees if necessary, should be taken to ensure the space will be utilized for the purpose of peace," he said. Enditem