The Japanese government has thrown down the gauntlet before China. China should take it up with an iron resolve and crush any Japanese act of aggression.

The Japanese Cabinet decided officially on Monday to bring China's Diaoyu Islands under Japanese control, and the Japanese government is considering striking a deal soon with the "owner" of three of the islets that it wants to purchase.

The decision came a day after President Hu Jintao admonished Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda not to proceed with the "nationalization" plan.

Japan's action reveals outright disregard for our efforts for peace.

If being reasonable is no longer the right way to deal with the Japanese, we must prepare for a worse, and perhaps the worst, scenario, no matter how reluctant we are to do so.

Concrete actions are needed to show we won't retreat an inch from our duty to protect our sovereignty over these islands. Japan is turning the Diaoyu Islands into an area of conflict and is making it impossible for China and itself to have a normal relationship.

On Monday, Noda claimed that the Japanese government will bring the islands under stable and peaceful management.

That was sheer nonsense.

A thief is never a legitimate owner of stolen property. The Japanese government is not entitled to the Diaoyu Islands. These islets, regardless of claims that they are "owned" by a Japanese individual, a local government or a state, are a part of China.

It's certainly questionable if the Japanese government will prove capable of keeping them stable and peaceful.

A general election is expected to take place in Japan in November. Several of the political heavyweights who are aspiring to become the next prime minister of the country already have their eyes on the Diaoyu Islands.

Nobuteru Ishihara, secretary-general of Japan's Liberal Democratic Party and the eldest son of the right-wing Tokyo governor Shintaro Ishihara, is one of those who are hoping to ratchet up the tension.

Whatever the motives are behind Japan's attempts to "nationalize" the Diaoyu Islands, Japan is not and will never be the legitimate owner of them.

China publicized the territorial sea baselines of the Diaoyu Islands and other islets on Monday. Chinese boats will patrol them regularly.

Japan should prepare to face the consequences of its actions.

(China Daily 09/11/2012 page8)